U.S. patent number 3,964,100 [Application Number 05/474,238] was granted by the patent office on 1976-06-15 for automatic tape loading apparatus for cassettes and the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Programming Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to William P. Bennett, Jacob Haller.
United States Patent |
3,964,100 |
Bennett , et al. |
June 15, 1976 |
Automatic tape loading apparatus for cassettes and the like
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for automatically loading a plurality
of cassettes of the type having two rotatable spools and a leader
tape connecting said spools with a predetermined length of magnetic
tape or the like from a supply reel. The apparatus includes a
magazine for storing a plurality of empty cassettes, means for
advancing said cassettes, one at a time, from the magazine to a
loading station, means for withdrawing the leader from the
cassette, cutting it into two sections, and splicing the free end
of one section to the leading end of a length of supply tape, means
for automatically rotating one of the spools of said cassette to
wind the spliced leader section and a predetermined length of said
supply tape into said cassette, and means for cutting the supply
tape after said predetermined amount has been wound into the
cassette and splicing the trailing end thereof to the free end of
the other leader section. Means are also provided to eject the
fully loaded cassette from the apparatus and recommence the tape
loading cycle with the following cassette stored in the
magazine.
Inventors: |
Bennett; William P.
(Northbrook, IL), Haller; Jacob (Northbrook, IL) |
Assignee: |
Programming Technologies, Inc.
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26969563 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/474,238 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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296255 |
Oct 10, 1972 |
3814343 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
360/95;
G9B/23.078 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B
23/113 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11B
23/113 (20060101); G11B 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;242/181,56,182
;360/95,13 ;156/157 ;226/112,95 ;352/72,73 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cook; Daryl W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lawrence; Lawrence S.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 296,255, filed Oct. 10,
1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,343.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. An apparatus for automatically positioning a section of tape or
the like on a surface comprising, in combination, a housing having
an internal chamber open along one side, an entrance passage for
receiving a loop of said tape into said chamber, and at least one
outlet port in communication with said chamber; a block having a
surface for receiving a section of said tape movable into a first
position to sealably engage the open side of the housing to enclose
the internal chamber and into a second position out of engagement
with the housing; and a vacuum source connected to the outlet port
to reduce the pressure within the chamber to create a suction force
to act upon the tape introduced via the entrance passage in a
manner such that the tape forms a loop conforming in shape to the
internal configuration of the chamber with one section of said loop
in contact with the surface of the block; said block having a
plurality of passages formed therein connecting the tape receiving
surface and the vaccuum source to hold said one section of tape in
nonmoving contact with said surface upon movement of the block from
the first to the second position.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including means
for extracting a loop of tape for positioning on said surface from
a cassette of the type having two rotatable spools, a length of
tape connecting said spools, at least one opening formed along an
edge thereof, and at least one locating aperture formed in a side
in close juxtaposition to said opening, comprising a tubular member
having a nozzle at one end, and connected at the other end to a
source of high pressure gas; said member being adapted to engage
said locating aperture, so as to position the nozzle to direct a
jet of high pressure gas against a surface of the tape to force the
same out of the opening and into said entrance passage.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, in which the nozzle is
disposed at approximately a right angle with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the tubular member.
4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including means
for extracting a loop of tape from a cassette or the like for
positioning on said block in the first position; means for cutting
such tape loop operable in the second position of the block; and
means for spicing the cut tape loop to a length of additional
tape.
5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further comprising
means for holding a cassette having a length of tape therein
adjacent the entrance passage of the chamber; means for storing a
plurality of said cassettes; and means for advancing cassettes one
at a time from said storing means to said holding means, whereby
tape from successive cassettes is sequentially positioned upon the
block, cut and spliced to lengths of additional tape.
6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including means
for holding a cassette having a length of tape therein adjacent the
entrance passage of the chamber, whereby the tape positioned on the
block is received from a cassette in said holding means.
7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, further including means
for extracting a loop of tape from a cassette in the holding means
for positioning on said block.
8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising
means for storing a plurality of said cassettes; and a means for
feeding cassettes one at a time from said storing means to said
holding means, whereby tape from successive cassettes is positioned
upon the block.
9. An apparatus for automatically positioning a section of tape
leader from a cassette on a surface for splicing to an additional
length of tape comprising, in combination, a housing having an
internal chamber open along one side and an entrance passage for
receiving a loop of tape into said chamber; a block having a
surface to receive and hold a section of said tape loop movable
into engagement with said housing to enclose the open side and to
receive the section of tape and out of engagement with said housing
to permit splicing; means for introducing a loop of tape leader
from a cassette into said entrance passage; means for reducing the
pressure within the chamber such that suction forces act upon the
tape loop to form an enlarged loop with one section thereof in
contact with said surface of the block; and splicing means operable
when the block is out of engagement with the housing to splice the
section of tape on the surface to an additional length of tape.
10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further comprising
means for storing a plurality of cassettes; and means for feeding
cassettes one at a time from said storing means to a position
adjacent the entrance passage of the housing so that tape loops
from successive cassettes may be positioned on the block and
spliced to additional tape lengths.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years magnetic tape cassettes have become an extremely
popular means for storing and playing recorded material of both the
entertainment and educational type. However, this has increased the
existing problem of efficiently and economically loading each
cassette with recorded material and supplying the same to the
consumer at a reasonable price. Conventional magnetic tape
cassettes comprise a case having two rotatable spools disposed
therein and one or more open sections disposed along one edge of
the case through which the tape stored on the spools may be engaged
by the transducer head of a playback or recording device.
Naturally, cassettes of this type can be loaded with tape prior to
the assembly of the case simply by installing in the first instance
spools having the desired amount of tape coiled thereon. However,
this loading technique has proven to be quite uneconomical due to
the complex equipment required to carefully wind the spools and
close the cases without damaging the tape. Accordingly, cassette
manufacturers have provided fully assembled cassettes with a leader
tape having its ends connected to the two spools within the
cassette. Cassettes of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,423,038 and 3,167,267.
Starting with this basic cassette, the loading procedure is quite
apparent. First the leader is withdrawn and cut into two discreet
sections, one attached to each spool of the cassette. The leading
end of magnetic tape to be loaded is then spliced to one of the
leader sections, and the spool for that section is rotated until a
predetermined amount of tape has been wound thereon. The tape is
then cut and the trailing end thereof spliced to the other leader
section to complete the loading operation. To implement the
foregoing loading procedure various types of machines for cutting,
splicing and winding the tape into cassettes have been developed.
Many of these machines are simply holding, cutting and winding jigs
that require complete manual implementation. Others are
semi-automatic and as such are obviously more desirable.
Typical of the semi-automatic machine is the device shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,637,153 to King. King discloses a machine which
comprises means for rotatably supporting a reel of supply tape,
means for holding a blank cassette and rotating the spools thereof,
and cutting and splicing means for cutting the leader tape into two
sections, splicing the end of one section to the leading end of the
supply tape, cutting the supply tape after a predetermined amount
thereof has been rotated into the cassette and splicing the end of
the other leader section to the trailing end of the supply
tape.
Unfortunately, while many of the operations of the King cassette
winding apparatus are automatic, the use of this device is still
quite time consuming and costly. Each cassette must be manually
loaded into the holding means by the operator, and the leader tape
must be manually withdrawn from the cassette and placed upon the
cutting and splicing means before the automatic operations of the
machine can be commenced. Similarly, after the cassette is fully
loaded with the supply tape it must also be manually removed from
the holding means by the operator. Thus, although King does indeed
automate the cutting, splicing and winding operations, the King
device can at most be classified as only being semi-automatic,
since its automatic capabilities are limited to the handling of a
single cassette at a time, and it must depend upon an operator to
supply and remove such single cassettes to and from the holding
means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for
automatically loading a plurality of cassettes of the type
described with precorded or blank magnetic tape or the like from a
supply source is provided. Unlike the cassette winding devices
heretofore employed, the present apparatus is fully automatic; the
only manual steps required by the operator being to load a
plurality of empty cassettes into a magazine or hopper, install a
reel of supply tape and splicing tape, thread the supply tape and
splicing tape into the machine and activate the start control. Each
cassette is then automatically fed from the magazine to a loading
station where the leader is automatically extracted, the cassette
is loaded with a predetermined amount of the supply tape, and is
then automatically ejected from the machine, all without the
assistance of an operator. The entire feeding, loading and ejecting
operation is fully automatic; as the loading of each cassette with
the supply tape is completed, it is ejected from the machine and
the next empty cassette is transported into the loading position.
The only limitation on the number of cassettes that can be
automatically filled with magnetic tape by the instant machine is
the size of the supply reel and the capacity of the cassette
storage magazine. Accordingly, the operator of the machine must
merely monitor the supply of cassettes and the supply of tape and
replenish the same as required in order to maintain the machine in
operation and minimize its downtime. Due to its fully automatic
nature, the machine is capable of operating at a much higher rate
of speed than prior winding devices, and thus results in lower cost
cassettes. In addition, there is further labor saving inasmuch as a
single operator can monitor several machines, whereas in the past a
single operator was required for each individual machine in order
to implement the many manual operations that were necessary to load
each cassette.
In general, the automatic cassette loading apparatus of the
invention comprises, in combination, a magazine for storing a
supply of empty cassettes to be loaded, cassette receiving means
adapted to removably receive one cassette at a time from the
magazine and hold the same in a tape loading position; feed means
for transporting each cassette from said magazine to said cassette
receiving means; a spindle for rotatably supporting a reel of
supply tape; a splicing block comprising a first section having a
first guide means in its top surface for receiving a length of
leader or supply tape, and a second section disposed adjacent the
first section having second and third guide means in the top
surface thereof, each for receiving a length of leader or supply
tape, at least one of said sections bein movable between a first
position in which the first guide means is in alignment with the
second guide means, and a second position in which the first guide
is in alignment with the third guide means; means for positioning
the leader in the first and second guide means of the splicing
block in its first position; means for cutting the tape positioned
on the splicing block, movable between a first cutting position in
the first position of the splicing block to cut the leader tape
into two sections, and a second cutting position in the second
position of the splicing block to cut the supply tape after a
predetermined amount thereof has been wound into the cassette;
splicing means disposed adjacent said splicing block to splice the
end of one leader section to the leading end of the supply tape in
the second position of the splicing block and to splice the
trailing end of the supply tape to the end of the second leader
section in the first position of the splicing block; rotatable
drive means adapted to removably engage at least one spool of a
cassette in the loading position to wind the supply tape into said
cassette after the same has been spliced to said leader; sensing
means to measure the amount of supply tape being wound into the
cassette, and to deactivate the drive means when a predetermined
amount of said tape has been so wound; means for ejecting a
cassette from the cassette receiving means after it has been fully
loaded with supply tape; and control means adapted to sequentially
and cyclically activate and deactivate each of the foregoing
elements of the apparatus to effectuate the continuous leading of a
plurality of cassettes.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many different
types of structures and embodiments fall within the definition of
the various components of the automatic winding apparatus of the
invention specified above. It is critical, however, that such
components be selected bearing in mind the high degree of
cooperation required to effectuate the successful operation of the
device.
The magazine for storing the supply of cassettes can be in the form
of a vertically disposed rectangular cross-section hopper, in which
the cassettes are disposed in a horizontal plane and stacked one on
top of the other. This type of magazine lends itself quite readily
to gravity feeding of the cassettes to the bottom thereof, at which
point a discharge opening can be located for the passage of the
cassettes to the receiving means. A fully open bottom end or a slot
in a side wall of the magazine can be provided for such discharge
depending upon the type of feed means utilized. Similarly, a
rectangular magazine of this type can also be disposed horizontally
and a biasing means, such as a spring, utilized to urge the
cassettes toward one end. However, this is less desirable that the
vertically disposed magazine due to the extra cost of the biasing
means and the restriction that the biasing means must necessarily
place on the operator's access to the loading end of the
magazine.
The magazine can also be in the form of a rotating or vibrating
drum-like hopper in which the cassettes are gradually urged toward
an opening located in a lower portion thereof. The complexities of
such a hopper, however, render it less satisfactory than the
gravity feed rectangular hopper.
The construction of the cassette receiving means for holding the
cassettes in the loading position depends to a great extent on the
corresponding construction of the magazine and the type of means
utilized for feeding the cassettes from the magazine to the
receiving means. Consideration should also be given to the fact
that the receiving means must cooperate with the means for ejecting
the cassettes from the winding apparatus upon the completion of
each loading cycle.
The receiving means must be so designed that it properly secures
each cassette in the loading position throughout the tape loading
operation. To accomplish this, the receiving means can comprise a
flat plate having several upstanding pins adapted to engage
corresponding openings in the cassette, and one or more clamps
which engage one surface of the cassette to hold it firmly in place
against the plate. As a preferred alternative embodiment, to
simplify the feeding operation as hereinafter described, the
cassette receiving means comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart
plates rigidly secured to each other along one or more edges and
having at least one open edge adapted to receive each cassette
inserted therein. Abuttments attached to and interposed between the
plates can be provided for aligning the cassettes within the
receiving means. In addition, to firmly secure each cassette in the
proper position after insertion between the plates, biasing means,
such as one or more spring clips, can be provided to urge the
cassette firmly against one of the two plates.
To accomplish cassette insertion, the feed means can be simply a
pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder having a piston which engages the
trailing edge of the lower most cassette in the magazine and forces
the same into the cassette receiving means via the magazine
discharge opening upon actuation thereof. A motor driven pusher
similar to the pneumatic piston or a conveyor having fingers which
grasp the cassette in the magazine and force the same to the
receiving means can also be utilized. In the case of a conveyor,
however, it is preferable that the discharge opening of the
magazine be the entire bottom, so that the cassettes can simply
drop onto the feed means.
The cassette receiving means must either be permanently fixed or
movable into a cassette inserting position, in which the insert
opening of the receiving means is in alignment with the discharge
opening of the magazine during the cassette feeding operation.
Therefore, in order to receive cassettes being fed from a vertical
magazine having a horizontal discharge slot, the cassette receiving
means must be positioned in a horizontal plane. However, it is
preferable that loading of a cassette take place with the cassette
positioned in a vertical plane, so that the winding apparatus can
be designed as a vertical format structure, rather than a
horizontal format structure, and thus take up less floor space.
Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment the cassette receiving
means is movable from a horizontal cassette inserting position to a
vertical cassette loading position, and to accomplish this
operation positioning means are provided to rotate the receiving
means at least 90.degree. about a horizontal axis. The positioning
means comprises a uni-or bi-directional drive means, such as an
electric motor or pneumatic cylinder and suitable connecting
linkage between the drive means and the receiving means, such as a
Geneva drive or a solenoid operated clutch in the case of an
electric motor, and a cylindrical tube connected to the horizontal
axis of the receiving means and having an elongated circumferential
slot adapted to receive and guide therein a radially disposed pin
on a piston rod which slidably engages the interior of the tube.
The cassette, of course, must be held in the loading position with
its open edge adjacent the means for withdrawing and positioning
the leader. Therefore, the direction in which the receiving means
must be rotated to move from the inserting position to the loading
position depends upon the position of each cassette in the
magazine. The positioning means can be provided with a single
cassette receiving position. However, this requires that the
magazine be loaded with the open edges of all cassettes stored
therein facing in the same direction to effectuate their proper
insertion. This arrangement simplifies the positioning means, since
the receiving means need only be rotated 90 degrees in the same
direction from the inserting position to the loading position for
each loading cycle. But, it also increases the time required to
fill the magazine. Thus, it is preferable to provide means which
permit the magazine to be randomly filled without regard to the
position of the open edge of the cassette.
Accordingly, as another feature of the present invention, means are
provided to sense the position of the lowermost cassette in the
magazine and sequentially energize the positioning means to rotate
the receiving means in the proper direction to receive such
cassette, and then rotate the receiving means in the proper
direction to place the cassette in the loading position. Standard
cassettes are formed with a raised portion on their top and bottom
surfaces located adjacent the open edge. The sensing means can be a
microswitch mounted at the bottom of the magazine and adapted to be
actuated by such raised portion, when the cassette is facing one
direction and not activated when the cassette is facing the
opposite direction. Upon actuation, the microswitch sends a signal
to the bi-directional drive motor to rotate the positioning means
in the required direction to place the receiving means in the
proper inserting position to accept the next cassette in the
magazine. After insertion of the cassette the positioning means is
again activated to rotate the receiving means into the loading
position.
The means for withdrawing the leader from the cassette and
positioning the withdrawn leader on the splicing block includes two
separate, but interrelated, devices. The first device for initially
withdrawing the leader from the cassette comprises a thin tube
having a nozzle at one end adapted to be inserted into a locating
opening in the cassette and to direct a stream of high pressure air
against the inner surface of the leader tape to force the same out
of the open edge of the cassette. The second device for positioning
the leader tape on the splicing block is disposed below the
cassette receiving means and comprises an elongated housing having
a rectangularly shaped vacuum plenum or chamber formed therein. The
plenum has an open bottom face and communicates with an access
opening located at a midpoint of the housing to the top surface
thereof, through which it receives the leader tape extracted by the
air nozzle. The splicing block is reciprocally movable in a
vertical direction between a tape leader receiving position, in
which it abuts the bottom face of the elongated housing to sealably
enclose the vacuum plenum, and a cutting and splicing position in
which it is vertically spaced apart from the elongated member to
permit cutting and splicing of the tape. Means are also provided to
apply a suction force to the ends of the vacuum plenum to cause the
tape leader to be formed into a loop corresponding to the internal
shape of the plenum, and thereby placed within the guide means of
the splicing block.
The first guide means is the first section of the splicing block
can be in the form of a elongated groove having a width slightly
larger than the width of the supply tape and leader tape to receive
and hold such tape therein. Similarly, the second and third guide
means in the second splicing block section comprises two parallel
elongated grooves, which are selectively alignable with the groove
in the first section to define the two splicing block positions.
Vacuum connections are provided in the splicing block to hold the
leader tape and supply tape in the guide means during the cutting
and splicing operations. The suction force also assists in
positioning the leader tape on the splicing block during the
withdrawing and positioning operations, and, in addition, holds the
leader tape in place while the splicing block is vertically moved
away from the vacuum plenum into its cutting and splicing
position.
Either the first or second splicing block section can be made
reciprocally movable to effectuate selective alignment of their
respective guide grooves in the first and second positions thereof.
Such movement can be automatically effectuated by utilizing any
suitable motive means, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or
electric motor or solenoid. It should be noted that upon withdrawal
of the leader tape from a cassette it is automatically placed and
held within the first groove of the first splicing block section
and the second groove of the second splicing block section which
are in alignment to define the first position of the splicing
block, and in such position the leading end of the supply tape is
held within the third groove of the second splicing block section.
After the leader is severed by the cutting means, the splicing
block is shifted to its second position to place the cut leader
portion held in the first splicing block section and the supply
tape held in the third groove of the second splicing block section
in aligment for splicing. The remaining cut leader portion is held
in place within the second groove of the second splicing block
section during the winding operation, and is therefore shifted back
into the first position in alignment with the single groove of the
first splicing block section after winding and cutting of the
supply tape has been completed.
The first and second splicing block sections define therebetween a
gap which permits passage of the cutting means to sever the leader
tape in the first position of the splicing block and to sever the
supply tape in the second position of the splicing block. Any
suitable cutting means, such as a knife or a shear can be utilized
in the apparatus of the invention. However, in the preferred
embodiment, the cutting means comprises an electrical resistance
type heating element, which rapidly severs the leader tape and the
supply tape, as well as the required adhesive splicing tape, as
hereinafter discussed, by rapidly burning such tapes along an
extremely narrow line. The cutting element can be simply a high
resistance wire formed of tungsten or a similar material connected
to a voltage source of suitable potential. To implement the cutting
operation, the wire, which is hereinafter referred to as the "hot
wire" can be mounted on a pivotally movable lever arm, or a
vertically movable bracket, which is adapted to raise and lower the
hot wire between a position below the surface of the splicing block
to a position above the surface of the splicing block by passing
through the gap between the two splicing block sections. The hot
wire has an advantage over conventional cutting means inasmuch as
it permits the cutting operation to be accomplished during both the
upward and downward stroke of the lever arm or bracket. In
addition, the thinness of the hot wire permits the gap between the
splicing block sections to be made relatively small, so that the
tape held thereon is properly supported.
The splicing means is adapted to apply a section of adhesive
splicing tape to the abutting ends of the leader tape and the
supply tape held on the first and second splicing block sections in
both their first and second positions. The splicing means includes
a hub for supporting a role of splicing tape, a splicing head and
reciprocally movable feed means for incrementally advancing the
splicing tape from the supply role to the splicing head. The
splicing head is disposed for reciprocal vertical movement about
the splicing block, and is adapted to receive a section of splicing
tape from the feed means and apply the same under pressure to the
tape to be spliced. In the preferred embodiment, the portion of the
splicing tape feed means that holds the splicing tape comprises a
block having a tape guide groove formed in its lower surface.
Suitable vacuum lines are connected to the groove to hold the
splicing tape therein by means of suction. In operation, the
splicing tape is picked up by the suction force of the feed means
block. The block is then horizontally advanced to the splicing head
by any suitable transport means, such as a pneumatic cylinder. The
splicing head then picks up the leading end of the splicing tape,
also by applying suction, the suction to the feed means is stopped,
and the feed means block returned to its tape pick-up position
where it receives and holds the next section of splicing tape by
suction. At that point the splicing tape is cut.
The position of the splicing means with respect to the splicing
block and the cutting means is such that the movement of the hot
wire upwardly cuts the tape on the splicing block as well as the
splicing tape held in the splicing means. Likewise downward
movement of the hot wire also cuts the splicing tape and the
magnetic tape positioned on the splicing block. It should also be
noted that in the preferred embodiment the entire splicing means
including the splicing tape, feed means and splicing head are
movable laterally away from the splicing block to permit the
splicing block to be moved into sealing engagement with the vacuum
plenum to receive the leader from the next cassette. Further
details of the construction and operation of the splicing means are
described hereinafter with respect to the drawing.
The rotatable drive means for the take-up spool of a cassette
comprises a drive motor having a stub axle adapted to operatively
engage the spool. The drive motor can be of any suitable type that
is readily controlled such as an electric motor or a pneumatic
turbine. The drive motor is mounted on a transport means, such as a
slidable support bracket, which is reciprocally movable by means of
a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, between a drive position in
which the stub axle engages the spool of a cassette held in the
loading position by the receiving means and a neutral position in
which the stub axle is out of engagement with the cassette. In
addition, it is convenient to also mount the tubular nozzle for
withdrawing the tape leader on the transport means. To accomplish
tape withdrawal, the transport means can be provided with a third
position located between the drive position and the neutral
position, in which the tube engages the cassette with the nozzle
placed adjacent the leader tape.
The means for sensing the amount of supply tape to be loaded onto
each cassette can be one or more magnetic tape transducers
positioned to pick up a signal inaudible at normal play back speed,
recorded on the tape at the end of each tape segment. In addition,
a mechanical counting means to measure the length of tape actually
wound onto each cassette can also be employed, either individually
or in combination with the pick-up transducer. The sensing means is
adapted to stop the rotatable drive means for the cassette after
the desired amount of tape has been wound onto the cassette, and to
then actuate the next sequence of operation of the apparatus to
complete the splicing and winding cycle for each cassette.
The ejection means for removing a fully loaded cassette from the
winding apparatus of the invention can be simply a pneumatically
operated pusher arm adapted to forceably urge the loaded cassette
out of the cassette receiving means. As in the case of the leader
withdrawing tube, it is usually convenient to mount the ejection
means on the drive motor transport means. It should be noted that
where a rotatable cassette receiving means is utilized, after the
cassette is fully loaded the bidirectional motor must be actuated
to rotate the receiving means 90 degrees into an eject position, in
which the loaded cassette can be discharged from the apparatus.
The control means employed to activate the various components of
the winding apparatus of the invention in their proper sequence
comprises a series of interconnected stepper switches,
micro-switches and solenoids adapted to be actuated by each of the
various components as they perform their intended functions. Solid
state circuitry or electro-mechanical relays can be employed
individually or in combination to perform the control function, and
such circuitry will be well known to those skilled in the art.
The foregoing feature and components of the cassette loading
apparatus of the invention along with additional features thereof
are more fully defined in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the cassette winding apparatus
of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical magnetic tape cassette
used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlargement of one portion of the winding apparatus of
FIG. 1 shown partially in cross section.
FIG. 4 is an other view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5
of FIG. 4 showing the splicing block utilized in the instant
invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6
of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.
6.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one portion of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the tape
splicing assembly and cutting means of the winding apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the drive motor transport
assembly taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 7.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic drawings of the control circuit for
the winding apparatus of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing of a typical monostable circuit used
in the control circuit of the apparatus.
FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing of the plenum Flip-Flop circuit and
the hot wire monostable circuit used in the apparatus.
FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing of the out-of-materials gate used in
the apparatus.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the splicing head taken along
the line 15--15 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 16 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the cassette
indexing means.
FIG. 17 is a view taken along line 17--17 of FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is a side view of still another embodiment of the cassette
indexing means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the apparatus for automatically
loading a plurality of cassettes in accordance with the invention
comprises a console having a mounting panel 1 which supports
thereon a control panel 10; a spindle 13 for rotatably supporting a
reel 8 of magnetic tape 3; a rectangular crosssection magazine 11
for holding a plurality of empty cassettes 12 to be loaded with a
predetermined amount of magnetic tape; cassette receiving means 15
disposed adjacent one side of the magazine to receive one cassette
at a time from the magazine and hold the same in a tape loading
position; and cassette feed means 26 disposed on the opposite side
of the magazine 11 for transporting each cassette from the magazine
to the receiving means 15. A splicing block 70 disposed below the
cassette receiving means is provided for supporting a section of
magnetic tape 3 and leader tape 7 (FIG. 4) thereon; and means for
positioning the leader tape 7 on the splicing block 70, comprising
an elongated leader guide housing 71 is mounted above the splicing
block. Cutting means 160 having a pivotally movable lever 161 is
mounted on splicing block 70 to selectively sever the leader tape
and the supply tape positioned on the splicing block. A splicing
assembly 73 is movably disposed adjacent the splicing block to
splice the severed leader 7 to the magnetic tape 3. The apparatus
also comprises cassette drive means 74 (FIG. 7) comprising an
electric motor 75 and a rotatable stub axle 76 to rotate a take-up
spool 4 of cassette 12 to wind magnetic tape 3 thereon; and
transducers 77 and 78 to pick up an inaudible signal recorded on
tape 3 to sense the amount of tape being wound into the cassette,
and to deactivate drive motor 75 in response thereto.
Referring to FIG. 2, the cassettes 12 are of a conventional type
comprising a case 2, two spools 4 and 6 rotatably mounted within
the case, and a leader tape 7 having the opposite ends thereof
secured to spools 4 and 6. The leader tape 7 is of sufficient
length so that it may be withdrawn via opening 65 formed along one
edge of case 2 for splicing to the leading end of the magnetic tape
3 to be loaded into the cassette as hereinafter described. Spool 4
has an aperture 5 to accomodate the rotatable stub axle 76 of the
drive means 74 and internal teeth 9 which are operatively engaged
by said stub axle to effectuate rotational movement of said spool
to wind tape 3 thereon. The cassette also has a locating aperture
64 formed adjacent opening 65 on the front and rear faces of case
2, a raised portion 24 formed on both faces adjacent the edge
containing opening 65, and a window 66 to visually observe the tape
therein.
The supply reel 8 containing magnetic tape 3 is removably mounted
on spindle 13 for rotational movement therewith by means of a
pivotally movable bracket arm 14 attached to the end of spindle 13
and adapted to engage a corresponding keyway in the hub of reel 8.
Other suitable means, such as a fixed longitudinal rib on the
spindle adapted to engage the keyway of the reel, and a hub cap
which threadably engages the end of the spindle can also be
utilized to secure the reel in place for rotation with the spindle.
Spindle 13 extends through plate 1 and is in operative engagement
with a tensioning motor or a friction brake adapted to apply a
reverse torque thereto to prevent runoff or backlash of the tape 3
in the event that the tape should break, and to serve as a brake to
stop the flow of tape after the desired amount has been loaded into
a cassette or the apparatus is stopped. The tensioning motor (not
shown) can be an electric motor or an pneumatically driven turbine.
In the case of a friction brake, an electromagnetic or
pneumatically operated disc, shoe or the like can be provided. The
spindle 13 can be stopped, or the linkage between the tensioning
means or brake and spindle 13 can be adapted to slip when the
winding force of drive means 74 is applied to spool 4 of cassette
12 to permit tape 3 to be withdrawn from reel 8.
The cassette receiving means 15 (hereinafter referred to as
"receiver") is fixably mounted on the end of a rotatable shaft 16
which, as more fully described hereinafter, rotates the receiver
between a vertical tape loading position as shown in FIG. 1 in
which opening 65 of a cassette held therein is downwardly disposed,
and a horizontal cassette receiving and ejecting position as shown
in FIG. 8. The cassette receiver comprises a pair of spaced apart
parallel plates 17 rigidly secured to each other along edges 17a,
17b and 17c and defining therebetween a generally rectangular
shaped sleeve open along edges 17d and 17e to receive and hold each
cassette 12 as it is fed from magazine 11. A pair of spring clips
18 are mounted on the exterior of receiver 15 and have tab portions
(not shown) which extend through suitable openings in plates 17 to
engage case 2 of each cassette and thereby hold the same in a fixed
position during the tape splicing and loading operations. Circular
openings 19 are formed in both plates 17 of the receiver 15 in
alignment with the apertures 5 of each spool of a cassette disposed
therein to permit engagement thereof by the stub axle 76 of drive
means 74. Also formed in the cassette receiver 15 is a window 20,
which corresponds to window 66 of the cassette to permit the
operator to visually observe the winding operation within the
cassette.
The magazine 11 has an open top 11a through which the cassettes may
be inserted by an operator. The internal rectangular dimensions of
the magazine 11 are slightly larger than the outer dimensions of
the cassettes so as to guide and permit the cassettes to be stored
therein in a vertical stack. Since the cassettes have a uniform
rectangular shape, which matches the internal cross-sectional shape
of the magazine 11, they may be inserted into the magazine by the
operator with the raised portion 24 positioned either adjacent the
front or the rear walls of the magazine. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair
of microswitches 21 and 22 are mounted on a bottom plate 23 of the
magazine 11. Microswitch 21 is adapted to be engaged and actuated
by the raised portion 24 of the lowermost cassette in the magazine
when such cassette is positioned with its raised portion closest
the front, and thereby detects the cassette position. However, when
the cassette is facing in the opposite direction with its raised
portion closest to the rear wall of the magazine, microswitch 21
remains unactuated. Microswitch 22 is actuated by a cassette
positioned in either direction and thus serves to provide a signal
when magazine 11 is empty. The actuating arm of microswitch 22 can
also be made weight sensitive, so that a signal can be provided
when a predetermined number of cassettes remain in the magazine, so
that the operator can replenish the supply without stopping the
apparatus. In addition it may be desirable to provide a second
microswitch to indicate the absence of raised portion 24 to operate
in conjunction with microswitch 21, to avoid a malfunction if a
cassette should become cocked in the magazine.
The cassettes 12 are transported by feed means 26 from magazine 11
to receiver 15 via a discharge opening 25 formed in the lowermost
portion of side wall 11b of magazine 11 located immediately above
bottom plate 23 and adjacent to the receiver 15. The feed means 26
comprises a solenoid operated pneumatic cylinder 27 fixably mounted
on plate 1 in horizontal alignment with the lowermost cassette 12
in magazine 11. The cylinder 26 has a reciprocally movable piston
29, which fixedly carries a pusher rod 28 and a pusher tip 31
adapted to engage the trailing edge of the lowermost cassette in
the magazine. An opening 30 formed in side wall 11c of magazine 11
permits entry of pusher rod 28 and pusher tip 31 upon actuation of
cylinder 26. As shown in FIG. 6, pusher tip 31 extends parallel to
the trailing edge of each cassette and engages each cassette over a
relatively large area to provide a uniform feeding force to insure
proper insertion of the cassette into receiver 15. The thickness of
pusher tip 31 and of rod 28 is preferrably less than the thickness
of each cassette 12, so that the feed means may be reciprocated
without the danger of the pusher rod or the pusher tip catching on
the next cassette above the cassette being inserted into the
receiver.
As mentioned above, receiver 15 is shown in FIG. 1 in the loading
position, in which position the leader 7 may be extracted and the
supply tape inserted into a cassette 12. In the loading position
the receiver is 90.degree. out of phase with the orientation of the
cassettes stored within magazine 11. Accordingly, in order to feed
the lowermost cassette from the magazine to the receiver, the
receiver must first be rotated 90.degree. into a cassette receiving
position. The shape of the receiver 15 is such that cassettes can
only be inserted therein with their raised portion 24 extending to
the exterior of parallel plates 17. Accordingly, the direction in
which receiver 15 must be rotated to accomodate the next cassette
from magazine 11 depends upon the position of that cassette within
the magazine. This information is provided by the actuation of
microswitch 21.
The rotational movement of receiver 15 is accomplished by means of
a Geneva drive mechanism 32, which operatively engages shaft 16,
and is powered by a bi-directional electric motor 33. A bracket
assembly 34 rigidly secures the Geneva mechanism and the drive
motor to mounting plate 1. Shaft 16 is journaled within an opening
formed in a further mounting bracket 35 and is connected via a
rotatable position detecting switch mechanism 36 to the Geneva
drive 32. Indexing mechanism 36 operates in conjunction with
microswitch 21 to activate the Geneva drive motor 33 for rotation
in the proper direction to place receiver 15 into a position to
accept the next cassette from the magazine. The Geneva mechanism 32
is adapted to rotate the receiver 15 in increments of 90.degree.
each. The design of a Geneva drive mechanism is such that it
accurately positions and holds an object being rotated, and as much
is well suited for positioning the receiver 15 in the present
invention. It should be noted, however, that other rotatable
linkages well known to those skilled in the art can also be
employed to properly position the receiver.
The rotatable indexing mechanism 36 comprises a cylinder 37 fixably
mounted at its center to shaft 16. A further shaft 38 is connected
to the Geneva drive mechanism for rotational movement therewith,
and is adapted to slidably engage a central opening formed in
cylinder 37. A pin or a rib (not shown) engages a keyway in the
opening or cylinder 37, so that rotational movement of shaft 38
causes corresponding rotational movement of cylinder 37.
Shaft 38 has an enlarged flange-like portion 46 disposed adjacent
the Geneva drive 32. A helical compression spring 47 is disposed
about shaft 38 and bears against enlarged portion 46 and cylinder
37 to biase the cylinder toward receiver 15.
Cylinder 37 is formed with at least two position indicating grooves
39 and 40 which represent the two cassette receiving positions of
receiver 15. In addition, it may be desirable to provide a third
groove (not shown) to indicate the cassette loading position. An
angle bracket 41 fixably mounted on mounting plate 1 and disposed
above cylinder 37 carries thereon two microswitches 42 and 43, each
having spring biased actuating arms with suitable rollers, which
slidably engage and ride upon the outer surface of cylinder 37, and
are adapted to engage grooves 40 and 39 respectively, during
rotation of the cylinder. A third microswitch 44 is also mounted on
bracket 41 and slidably engages the face 45 of cylinder 37. Spring
47 urges the cylinder into contact with microswitch 44. As the
cylinder 37 is rotated, microswitch 43 will in one rotational
position engage groove 39 and thereby be activated. Similarly,
microswitch 42 will in another rotational position of the cylinder
engage groove 40 and likewise be activated. Another angle bracket
48 is mounted on plate 1 above the Geneva drive 32. A microswitch
49, which is secured to bracket 48 engages wheel 50 of the Geneva
drive, and is adapted to be activated by either a groove or lobe
formed in one radical location on wheel 50 upon the completion of
each Geneva drive cycle, and to thereby deactivate drive motor 33
with the receiver located in the cassette loading position.
If we assume that the unloaded receiver is in the position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3, upon energization of the apparatus of the invention,
microswitch 21 will provide a signal to indicate the direction in
which receiver 15 must be rotated to accept the lowermost cassette
in the magazine. In the cassette receiving position, pusher rod 28
of the feed means 26 transports the cassette from the magazine to
the receiver. The force applied to the cassette within the receiver
by pusher rod 28 causes slight axial movement of shaft 16 and
cylinder 37 overcoming the biasing action of spring 47. This
temporarily causes disengagement between microswitch 44 and
cylinder face 45, thus activating microswitch 44 to initiate the
operation of drive motor 33. At this point, microswitches 42 and 43
detect the position of cylinder 37 by their engagement or lack of
engagement with grooves 40 and 39 formed in the cylinder, and thus
provide a signal to motor 33 to initiate rotational movement in
either a forward or reverse direction to transport the receiver
into the cassette loading position. Once in the cassette loading
position, wheel 50 of the Geneva drive actuates microswitch 49,
indicating the completion of the Geneva cycle, and thus deactivates
drive motor 33. The operation of these microswitches are more fully
described with reference to the control circuit shown in FIG.
11.
FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate two alternate drive means for
rotating the receiver 15 between the cassette inserting position,
the leading position and the eject position.
The drive means shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 comprises an electric
motor 360 having and output shaft 361 connected to a flanged wheel
362. Shaft 38, which links the indexing mechanism 36 to the drive
means, has a second flanged wheel 363 mounted along a midpoint
thereof and terminates in a threeposition cam wheel 364 having stop
lobes 364a, 364b and 364c formed thereon, which correspond,
respectively, to the inserting, loading and ejecting positions of
the receiver 15. A drive belt 365 operatively connects wheel 362
and wheel 363 to rotate shaft 38 between the desired positions. A
pivotally mounted lever 366 is disposed adjacent cam 364 is sliding
engagement with the cam surface. As shown in FIG. 17 the lever 366
is adapted to stop the rotational movement of cam 364 each time it
engages a stop lobe thereof. A clip clutch (not shown) is
associated with wheel 363 to permit continous operation of motor
360 when the rotational movement of cam 364 and shaft 38 is stopped
in the desired position.
To disengage lever 366 from cam 364 a solenoid 367 disposed above
the lever and operatively linked thereto is provided. The solenoid
is connected by suitable circuitry to microswitches 21, 42, 43 and
44, which energize the solenoid to permit rotational movement of
the receiver and de-energize the same to stop the receiver in the
desired position.
The drive means shown in FIG. 18 comprises a three-position
pneumatic cylinder 370 having four air line connections controlled
by solenoids 371, 372, 373, 374. A reciprocally movable output
shaft 375 of cylinder 370 is fixedly connected to solid cylindrical
rod 376, which rod is adapted to slidably ride within a hollow
cylinder 377. The cylinder 377 is connected to one end of shaft 38
for rotating the same between the three positions of the receiver.
An elongated circumferential groove 378 having longitudinal
sections 378a, 378b, and 378c, which correspond, respectively, to
the cassette inserting, loading and ejecting positions of receiver
15 is formed in the wall of cylinder 377. A radially disposed pin
379 attached to rod 376 slidably engages groove 378, so that
reciprocal movement of rod 376 by means of pneumatic cylinder 370
is translated into rotational movement of cylinder 377 and shaft 38
attached thereto. The air line control solenoids 371, 372, 373 and
374 are connected by suitable circuitry to the microswitches 21,
42, 43 and 44 of the receiver indexing means to activate the
appropriate air lines to reciprocally move rod 376 into the desired
position.
As shown in FIG. 7, the means provided for withdrawing the tape
leader from each cassette comprises a hollow tubular member 60,
which is mounted on a transport means 80 for reciprocal horizontal
movement at the rear mounting plate 1 between a leader tape
withdrawing position in whcih the tubular member 60 which is in
alignment with alignment opening 64 of cassette 12 and a
non-operative position out of such engagement. The structure and
operation of transport means 80 is described hereinafter with
reference to the spool drive means 74. An air nozzle 61 is
downwardly disposed at one end of tubular member 60, so that an air
jet discharged therefrom will contact the inner surface of the tape
leader to apply a force thereagainst and thereby effectuate its
extraction via opening 67 of cassette 12. A pneumatic pressure line
62 is connected to the other end of the tubular member 60 to
provide the necessary air pressure. A rectangular shaped opening 63
is formed in plate 1 adjacent receiver 15 to permit passage of thhe
tubular member 60 therethrough. Applying air pressure to tube 60 by
means of line 62, after the insertion of the tube into opening 64
of the cassette, the air stream or jet discharged via nozzle 61
causes the tape leader contained within the cassette to be blown
outwardly of the cassette in the form of a loop, a portion of which
is positioned upon splicing block 70.
Referring once again to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the elongated
leader guide housing 71 of the leader tape positioning means has an
internal chamber or plenum 72 formed therein. The plenum has a
substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, the width of which
is slightly wider than the leader tape to provide guidance
therefor, and is fully open along the bottom side. Vacuum ports 81
and 82 are disposed at opposite ends of the housing 71 in
communication with plenum 72, and are each adapted to slidably and
sealably receive therein length adjustment adaptors 83 and 84,
respectively, which are movable to either increase or decrease the
internal volume of plenum 72 depending upon the length of the
leader tape in the particular lot of cassettes being loaded. A pair
of knurled thumb screws 85 and 85a threadably engage the ends of
housing 71 adjacent ports 81 and 82, respectively, to manually lock
the adjustment adaptors 83 and 84 in the desired position. A leader
entrance passage 86 is formed at a midpoint of housing 71 adjacent
opening 65 of a cassette 12 held in the loading position to permit
the entry into plenum 72 of a loop of leader tape 7 upon its
extraction from a cassette. A pivotally retractable guide roller
131 is disposed in passage 86 and is adapted to be automatically
moved into an operative tape guiding position during the winding of
the supply tape 3 into a cassette. Lines 87 and 88 connect adaptors
83 and 84, respectively, to a vacuum source which evacuates plenum
72 during the leader tape positioning operation to draw the leader
loop into a shape which substantially conforms to the internal
shape of the plenum. It has been found that the best results are
achieved by alternately applying suction to the adaptors 83 and 84,
simultaneously with the discharge of an air jet from nozzle 61.
The bottom of plenum 72 is enclosed during the leader tape
positioning operation by splicing block 70, which is vertically
movable between a leader tape receiving position enclosing the
plenum as shown in FIG. 3, and a tape cutting, splicing and winding
position spaced from the plenum as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The
splicing block 70 has a pair of support brackets 54 and 55 which
extend through and ride within slotted openings 89 and 91 formed in
mounting plate 1. Solenoid operated pneumatic cylinders 92 and 93
are fixedly disposed on the rear of mounting plate 1 as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 and have their actuating arms attached to support
brackets 54 and 55, respectively, to raise and lower the splicing
block between the two aforesaid positions. A gasket 90 is attached
to housing 71 along the periphery of the open bottom of vacuum
plenum 72, so that in the leader tape receiving position, splicing
block 70 engages gasket 90 to sealably enclose vacuum plenum
72.
It can be seen in FIG. 5 that splicing block 70 comprises two
contiguous splicing block sections 96 and 97, which define a
continuous flat splicing surface having a gap 130 therebetween. An
elongated tape guide groove 98 formed in splicing block section 96
extends longitudinally therealong and is adapted to receive and
hold therein the leader tape during the initial cutting and
splicing of the leader to the leading end of the supply tape 3, and
the trailing end of the supply tape during the final cutting and
splicing operation. Similarly, splicing block section 97 has formed
in the surface thereof a pair of tape guide grooves 99 and 100
which are also adapted to receive and hold the leader tape and the
supply tape, respectively. It should be noted that the width of
each of the guide grooves corresponds to the width of the tape to
insure its proper alignment during the cutting and splicing
operations. A plurality of apertures 94 are formed in the bottom
surface of each guide groove and are connected to a central chamber
9, in each splicing block section. The chambers 95 are connected
via lines 139 and 140 shown in FIG. 5 to a vacuum source, which is
activated to position and firmly hold the leader tape 7 and the
supply tape 3 within the guide grooves by means of suction.
Splicing block section 97 is movable transversely of section 96 to
selectively align guide grooves 99 and 100 with guide groove 98 to
define two distinct cutting and splicing positions of the splicing
block. A solenoid operated pneumatic cylinder 101 attached to
bracket 55 by means of angle bracket 103 provides the motive force
to shift splicing block section 97 between the two positions. The
cylinder 101 can, of course, be fixed to the stationary splicing
block section 96. It also should be noted that section 97 can be
fixed and section 96 can be made movable. This is a matter of
design choice. The first splicing block position is shown in FIG. 5
and is defined by the alignment of grooves 98 and 99. The movable
splicing block section is held in this position during the
withdrawal and positioning of the leader tape thereon so that
grooves 98 and 99 are aligned with vacuum plenum 72 in the
vertically raised leader tape receiving position of the splicing
block. In addition, the first splicing block position is maintained
during the initial cutting of the leader. The second splicing block
position is defined by the alignment of grooves 98 and 100, and is
utilized to initially splice the cut leader held in groove 98 to
the leading end of the supply tape held in groove 100. This
position is also maintained to cut the supply tape after a
predetermined amount has been wound into the cassette. Thereafter
the splicing block is returned to its first position to splice the
trailing end of the supply tape held in groove 98 to the remaining
leader section held in groove 99.
Prior to initially starting the apparatus of the invention, the
supply tape 3 stored on reel 8 is manually threaded over and under
a series of guide rollers 132 to 138 shown in FIG. 1, and the
leading end thereof is placed within guide groove 100 of splicing
block section 97. Suction via line 140 is then applied to hold the
tape within the guide grooves during the withdrawal and cutting of
the leader tape from the first cassette to be loaded and the
splicing thereof to the supply tape. To further secure the supply
tape in the proper position upon splicing block section 97 during
cutting and splicing, and during the feeding and ejecting of the
first and subsequent cassettes to and from receiver 15, a
pneumatically operated clamp 141 is mounted on splicing block
Section 97 adjacent guide roller 138. The clamp comprises a
mounting bracket 142, a solenoid operated pneumatic cylinder 144
secured to the bracket, and a locking arm 143 projecting from the
cylinder and adapted upon actuation of cylinder 144 to clamp tape 3
in place on roller 138.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 9 it can be seen that splicing assembly
73 is mounted between housing 71 and the cutting and splicing
position of splicing block 70 for horizontal reciprocal movement
upon mounting plate 1. In this manner the splicing assembly 73 can
be moved into a non-operative position to avoid interference with
splicing block 70 when the splicing block is vertically raised into
its leader tape receiving position. The non-operative position of
the splicing assembly is shown for illustrious purposes in FIG. 1,
but it should be noted that in actual operation when the other
components and sub-assemblies of the winding apparatus are in the
position shown in FIG. 1, which occurs during the winding of the
supply tape 3 into a cassette, the splicing assembly 73 will be in
the operative position shown in FIG. 4.
Splicing assembly 73 comprises a transport plate 102 supported on
mounting plate 1 and automatically movable between the operative
and non-operative positions described above by means of solenoid
operated pneumatic cylinder 159 mounted at the rear of plate 1 and
attached to plate 102 by means of brackets (not shown), which
extend through suitable openings formed in plate 1. Mounted on
plate 102 are a spindle 104 to removably support a roll 105 of
adhesive splicing tape 106; a guide roller 114 for tape 106; a
splicing tape feed mechanism 107 to advance the splicing tape 106
from roll 105 to the splicing position; and a splicing head
assembly 108, which receives the splicing tape from the feed
mechanism and applies the same under pressure to the tape to be
spliced on splicing block 70. The splicing tape feed mechanism 107
includes a splicing tape holding block 110 and a pnuematic cylinder
109 adapted to reciprocally move block 110 with respect to plate
102 to effectuate splicing tape advancement. The holding block 110
is rectangular in shape and has an elongated guide groove 115
formed in the lower surface thereof for receiving and holding a
section of splicing tape 106. A plurality of passages 116 are
formed within the block 110 and connect the upper surface of groove
115 with a central bore or chamber 117. A hollow adaptor 118 in
communication with central bore 117 is connected to a vacuum source
via line 111. In this manner, splicing tape 106 can be held within
groove 115 by suction during the feeding operation.
The splicing head assembly 108 comprises a pressure block 112
having a cylindrical chamber 120 formed in the upper portion
thereof, a rectangular shaped chamber 121 formed in the lower
portion thereof, and a horizontal bottom surface 124, to which is
attached a rubber pressure pad 125. A rectangular cross-section
splicing head 113 is slidably disposed within chamber 121 of the
pressure block 112, and is guided for vertical movement therein by
the internal sides of the chamber which are shown in FIG. 15.
Splicing head 113 is formed with a slot 113a which serves as a
guide passage for splicing tape applicator 157. Applicator 157 is
slidably disposed within slot 113a for vertical reciprocal
movement. A splicing tape pressure pad 145 is attached to the
bottom surface of splicing applicator 157 and is adapted to receive
the splicing tape from splicing block 110 and hold the same in the
proper position for application to the abutting ends of the leader
tape and the supply tape in splicing block 70. At least two
passages 146 formed in the splicing applicator 157 terminate at the
bottom surface of pad 145 and are connected via central passage
146a, adaptor 147 and line 148 to a vacuum source to provide
suction to hold the splicing tape on the pade 145. A T-shaped pin
149 is disposed within chamber 120 of pressure block 112, extends
downwardly via passage 151 into chamber 121 and is threadably
attached to the top of head 113. A helical compression spring 150
disposed within chamber 120 urges the head portion of pin 149
toward the bottom of chamber 120. A helical tension spring 153 is
connected at one end to the pressure block 112 above chamber 121 by
means of screw 154, and is connected at the other end to the line
adaptor 147 to urge connector 146a of splicing applicator 157 into
a groove 113b formed at the bottom of splicing head 113.
A solenoid operated pneumatic cylinder 122 is fixedly mounted on
plate 102, and has a piston arm 123 which is attached to the upper
surface of pressure block 112 to reciprocally move the splicing
head assembly 108 between a splicing tape pickup position, as shown
in FIG. 9, and a splicing position in which the splicing tape held
on pad 145 of splicing applicator 157 is placed in contact with the
supply tape and leader tape positioned upon splicing block 70.
Another pneumatic cylinder 155 is rigidly secured to plate 1, and
has a piston rod 156, which extends upwardly behind splicing block
70 and is in operative engagement with the bottom surface of
splicing head 113, at a point located behind splicing applicator
157. Actuation of cylinder 155 overcomes the downward biasing force
of compression spring 150 and thereby lifts splicing foot 113 and
applicator 157 within chamber 121 to a vertical point in which the
bottom surface of pad 145 is in alignment with the bottom of
pressure pad 125. The top surface of head of head 113 contacts
surface 158 of chamber 121 to stop upward movement of splicing head
113. A rubber pad 152 is attached to the top of applicator 157 to
cushion the impact of the applicator upon its contact with the
splicing block after actuation of cylinder 122. The splicing head
113 and applicator 157 is held in the lifted position during the
splicing tape cutting operation, which is described in more detail
hereinafter. When cylinder 155 is deactivated, piston rod 156 is
withdrawn, and spring 150 returns splicing head 113 and applicator
157 tape receiving position from which it is lowered by cylinder
122 onto splicing block 70.
The splicing assembly 73 is initially set up for operation by
withdrawing a portion of splicing tape 106 from roll 105, threading
the same around guide roller 114, and placing a section thereof
within guide groove 115 of block 110 with the leading end 57
overhanding the end of the block a sufficient distance, so that it
may be picked up by pad 145 of splicing applicator 147 upon
advancement of the transport means 107. Vacuum line 111 is then
actuated to hold the splicing tape in place by suction. All
subsequent operations of the splicing assembly, until the supply of
splicing tape is exhausted, are fully automatic. At the appropriate
instant, during each cutting, splicing and winding cycle of the
instant apparatus, pneumatic cylinder 109 is actuated to advance
holding block 110 from the position shown in FIG. 9 to a position
whereby the leading end 57 of the splicing tape 106 extends beneath
splicing applicator 157. At that point, vacuum line 148 is actuated
to secure end 57 upon pad 145 and vacuum line 111 is deactivated so
that holding block 110 releases its hold upon splicing tape 106.
Cylinder 109 then retracts block 110 to the starting position and
vacuum line 111 is again actuated to secure the next section of
splicing tape in place within guide groove 115. A microswitch 56 is
mounted on plate 102 in the splicing tape path between guide roller
114 and holding block 110. An actuating button 58 of the
microswitch is held in a depressed position by the presence of
splicing tape 106 and is released when the splicing tape is
depleted, to provide a suitable signal indicating that the supply
of splicing tape must be replenished. As an alternative to
microswitch 56, a photo-sensitive cell can be provided to signal
the depletion of the splicing tape. When this occurs, the loading
cycle of the particular cassette in the loading position is
completed and the apparatus is automatically stopped until a new
supply of splicing tape is provided.
Cutting means 160 comprises a level 161 having two individuals
lever sections 161a and 161b pivotally mounted by means of shaft
162 on opposite sides of splicing block section 97. The front of
lever section 161a can be seen in FIG. 9, and top of both lever
sections 161a and 161b can be seen in FIG. 5. The lever sections
are fixedly mounted on the ends of shaft 162 by any suitable means
for movement therewith, and the shaft is journaled within
appropriate openings formed in splicing block section 97. Shaft 162
has a gear 165 rigidly attached thereto. Gear 165 is operatively
engaged by piston 167 of hydraulic cylinder 166 which is formed
with a corresponding rack 167a, so that upon actuation of the
hydraulic cylinder the cutting means is pivotally moved from the
position shown by the solid lines to the position shown by the
dotted lines in FIG. 9. Hydraulic cylinder 166 and the
corresponding linkage can be disposed wither at the front or rear
of splicing block 70 or within a hollow portion thereof.
A foot section 163 extends upwardly from the free ends of both
lever sections 161a and 161b. A thin high impedance wire 164 formed
of tungsten or a similar metallic material extends between the two
lever sections at the upper end of the foot sections, and is
adapted to pass through gap 130 between splicing block sections 96
and 97 to permit pivotal movement of lever 161 between the
indicated positions. The wire 164 is connected to a suitable
electric circuit which provides, upon actuation thereof, a high
potential to heat the wire to a sufficient temperature to enable it
to sever the supply tape or leader tape held on splicing block 70
and the splicing tape held within splicing assembly 73. Due to its
inherent nature of uniformly heating, the hot wire 164 is adapted
to sever the tape on the splicing block and the splicing tape
during both its upward and downward movement.
Since the hot wire is attached to a pivotally movable lever it
tends to contact the tape in the splicing block and the splicing
tape at different angles. However, it is preferable that the
cutting angles be the same to ensure proper alignment of the
different tapes. Accordingly, the splicing tape is severed when it
is in the obliquely disposed position shown by the dotted line in
FIG. 9, which occurs when splicing foot 113 is held in its raised
position by the actuation of pneumatic cylinder 155. By holding the
tape in this position during the cutting operation, the hot wire
cuts the tape at an angle that matches the cutting angle of the
supply tape and leader tape in the splicing block. It can also be
seen that the splicing tape is cut in a manner such that the
trailing end of the cut section extends beneath pad 125 and the
leading end of the supply portion overhangs the end of holding
block 110.
After the initial cutting operation during each loading cycle of
the apparatus of the invention, that is where the leader tape held
in the first position of the splicing block 70 is cut and a section
of splicing tape is cut, lever arm 161 of the cutting means 160 is
held in its uppermost position. At that point, the cylinder 155 is
deactivated, permitting spring 150 to return splicing foot 113 to
the splicing tape receiving position. Splicing cylinder 122 is then
automatically actuated to lower the entire splicing head assembly
108 into a splicing position, wherein the section of splicing tape
held within groove 145 of splicing foot 113 is applied under
pressure to abutting sections of supply and leader tape held in the
splicing block 70. Continued pressure applied to the splicing head
assembly 108 by means of air cylinder 122 causes compression of
spring 155 to the point where rubber pressure pad 125 contacts the
overhanging portion of the cut splicing tape and applies the same
under pressure to the tape on the splicing block. This assures that
the entire section of splicing tape which is cut by the cutting
means 160 is uniformly applied to abutting sections of supply tape
and leader tape.
Upon completion of the foregoing splicing operation, cylinder 122
returns the splicing head assembly 108 to its tape receiving
position, whereupon splicing tape feed means 107 is again actuated
to transport the overhanging leading end 57 of the splicing tape
held within block 110 to a position whereby it is picked up within
groove 145 of splicing foot 113 and splicing foot 113 is raised by
cylinder 155. All of this occurs with the lever 161 of the cutting
means 160 held in its raised position. The holding block 110 is
adapted to move between lever arm sections 161a and 161b and
beneath hot wire 164 to transport the splicing tape to the splicing
head assembly and return to its starting position. At that point,
the cutting means actuating cylinder 166 returns the lever arm 161
to its starting position, to cut the next section of splicing tape
and the tape held in the second position of splicing block 70.
The cassette drive means 74 and the transport means 80 upon which
the drive means is mounted are shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10. As
mentioned hereinabove, the drive means comprises an electric motor
75 having a stub axle 76 adapted to operatively engage take-up
spool aperture 5 of a cassette held in the loading position. Motor
75 is preferably of the variable speed type to permit adjustments
in the take-up speed of the tape during the winding operation. In
particular, it maybe desirable to reduce or stop the cassette
take-up speed as the tape nears the end of the tape length to be
wound into each cassette, to avoid overwinding. This is
accomplished by means of transducer 78 (FIG. 1) which picks up an
audible signal on tape 3 indicating the end of a predetermined tape
segment and in response thereto emits a control signal to reduce
the speed of or stop motor 75. The motor and/or the stub axle can
be adapted to slip when sufficient tension is applied to the tape
being wound. This avoids the breakage when the full amount of tape
has been wound into each cassette. Means can be also provided to
automatically stop the drive motor 75 when such slippage
occurs.
As mentioned hereinbefore, tubular member 60 of the leader tape
extraction means is also mounted on transport means 80.
Accordingly, transport means 80 is selectively movable between a
non-operative position as shown in FIG. 7; a leader tape extracting
position, in which tubular member 60 engages aperture 64 of a
cassette held in receiver 15, so that nozzle 61 is adjacent leader
tape 7; and a drive position in which stub axle 76 operatively
engages teeth 9 of spool 4 of the cassette. The transport means 80
comprises a housing 126 slidably mounted on the undersurface of an
angle bracket 127, which is fixably attached to plate 1. Referring
to FIG. 10 it can be seen that housing 126 is in the form of a
rectangular box, the top portion of which has an outwardly
extending flange 126a adapted to ride within a corresponding groove
128 formed in the bottom of angle bracket 127. An upstanding lug
129 extends from the top of housing 126 through an opening 186
formed adjacent groove 128 in the bottom portion of bracket 127. A
transport cylinder 187 is fixedly mounted on bracket 127 and has a
piston arm 188 attached to the upstanding lug 129. Air pressure
lines 68 and 69 are connected by suitable fittings to opposite ends
of cylinder 187 to provide the necessary pressure to actuate piston
arm 188, so as to reciprocally transport housing 126 between the
three positions described above via opening 63 formed in plate 1.
Cylinder 187 has no intermediate position corresponding to the
leader tape extracting position. Therefore, to stop the housing 126
in the leader tape extracting position, a transport limit cylinder
189 mounted on plate 1 is provided. Cylinder 189 is connected to
air pressure lines 173 and 174 and has a piston arm 171 and a stop
lug 172 formed on the end thereof. Upon actuation of cylinder 189,
piston arm 171 is extended to position stop lug 172 between
upstanding lug 129 of the transport housing 128 and the vertical
portion of bracket 127, thereby stopping the inward movement of the
transport means, with tube 60 in the proper location for the
extraction of the leader tape contained within a cassette. In
operation, after the leader tape is extracted, cylinder 189 is
actuated to raise piston arm 171 and stop lug 172 out of its
obstructing position between lug 129 and the vertical portion of
bracket 127, so as to permit cylinder 187 to move transport housing
126 into the spool drive position.
Cassette ejection means 175 for discharging fully loaded cassettes
from the receiver 15 is also mounted on housing 126 of transport
means 80. The ejection means comprises a pneumatic cylinder 176
having a reciprocally movable piston arm 177 and a pusher lug 178
mounted on the end thereof. An air line 179 is connected to the end
of cylinder 176 to provide the necessary pressure. The ejection
means is operative in the fully withdrawn position of the transport
means 80, when the cassette receiver 15 is disposed in a horizontal
position as shown in FIG. 8. Upon actuation of cylinder 176, pusher
lug 178 enters receiver 15 along an open edge thereof between
plates 17 and engages the closed edge portion of cassette 12 to
push the same out of the receiver. A chute 180 is provided to catch
or direct the cassettes as they are ejected from the receiver.
After ejection, piston arm 177 and pusher lug 178 are retracted
into the confines of housing 126, so that they do not interfere
with the other operations of the cassette winding apparatus of the
invention.
Referring once again to FIG. 1, several additional components in
the apparatus of the invention are shown. An electronic counter,
such as a Durant Series 2000 counter, having a transducer wheel
181, one foot in circumference, is mounted on plate 1 in the path
of supply tape 3. The counter operates individually in case of
blank tape and in conjunction with the transducers 77 and 78 in the
case of the prerecorded tape to provide a signal to stop the
cassette drive motor 75 when a predetermined amount of tape has
been loaded within cassette 12. The counter provides ten pulses per
revolution, to measure the amount of blank tape in one tenth of a
foot increments to be loaded into each cassette.
Also mounted on plate 1 is a lever arm 182 having a roller 183
rotably mounted on the end thereof, adapted to maintain the proper
tension on tape 3 during the winding operation. The lever 182 is
gravity biased against tape 3. It will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that a vacuum plenum adapted to receive a loop of tape
can be substituted for the lever arm 182. An automatically
retractable guide roller 185 is provided between housing 71 and
splicing block 70 to guide the supply tape 3 during the tape
winding operation. The roller 185 is adapted to be withdrawn
through an operning in plate 1 during the leader tape extracting
and positioning operations, and thus avoids obstructing the
vertical movement of splicing block 70 into engagement with the
bottom of housing 71. A tape supply detector, comprising a pivoted
lever arm 184 gravity biased against tape 3, is mounted above
supply reel 8. The tape detector has a microswitch associated
therewith (not shown) adapted to be actuated when the supply of
tape on reel 8 is depleted to a predetermined minimum to
automatically stop the apparatus upon the loading of a complete
program into the cassette in the tape loading position. The minimum
tape quantity which activates the detector can be set to insure
that no cassette will be in a partially loaded state when the
apparatus is stopped.
All of the foregoing components and subassemblies of the winding
apparatus of the invention are automatically operated on a
sequential basis by means of the control circuit, which is shown
schematically in FIG. 11. The heart of the circuit is a four-level
26 position solenoid operated stepper switch 200. The first level
201 is adapted to actuate electronic devices which control the
operation of such components as the drive motor, the hot wire and
the supply tape hub brake. The second level 202 sequentially
selects the appropriate microswitch circuit which is actuated upon
the completion of each particular operation and provides a signal
to advance all four levels of the stepper switch to the next
position. The third level 203 of the stepper 200 determines which
of the pneumatically operated functions will next occur. Finally,
the fourth level 204 is connected to a manually operable clearing
circuit which returns all functions to their starting position upon
its actuation.
Level 201 through 204 have associated therewith movable contact
arms 205 through 208, respectively. The contact arms are connected
to a common shaft for simultaneous advancement from one position to
the next by means of stepper relay 209. A mono-stable circuit 210
provides the necessary pulses to energize relay 209 and thereby
advance the stepper. The circuit to the stepper mono 210 is
completed by the actuation of the appropriate microswitch connected
to the various contact points of stepper level 202. Stepper relay
209 has normally closed interrupting contacts 352 which are opened
upon each actuation of the realy. These contacts are connected to a
driver monostable circuit 211, which in turn is connected to
contact arm 207 of stepper level 203 to provide the necessary
driving pulses to actuate the solenoid switches and valves
associated with each of the pneumatically operated functions. A
typical monostable circuit which can be utilized for the stepper
relay and for the drive is shown in FIG. 12 and will be described
hereinafter.
Perhaps the best way to understand the schematic of FIG. 11 is to
first review the various components in the circuit connected to
each position of each level of the stepper switch 200. Firstly, it
should be noted that contact arm 205 of level 201 is connected to
ground; contact arm 206 of level 202 is connected to the input of
stepper mono 210; contact arm 207 is connected to the output of
driver mono 211 and contact arm 208 is connected to the clearing
circuit.
Position 1 of level 201 is connected to single-pole double-throw
microswitch 21, disposed at the bottom of magazine 11 to indicate
the orientation of the bottom-most cassette in the magazine, and
the direction in which the cassette receiver should be rotated to
receive such cassette. Single-pole double-throw microswitches 42
and 43 normally biased in the position shown are connected,
respectively, to each of the poles of microswitch 21, are part of
the Geneva drive indexing mechanism, and are actuated by their
engagement with grooves 48 and 39, respectively, of cylinder 37 to
stop the Geneva drive motor 33 in the proper position. The position
of microswitch 21 determines which of the switches 42 or 43 will be
in the circuit and thus determines the extent of rotational
movement required for the Geneva drive. One pole of each of the
switches 42 and 43 is connected to terminal 1 of stepper level 202
via microswitch 49. Contact arm 206 of level 202 is connected to
the stepper monostable 210, so that in position 1 actuation of
either switch 42 or 43 completes the circuit to stepper mono 210
and thus activates stepper relay 209 to advance the contact arms of
all levels of the stepper switch to the next position.
Position number 2 of level 201 is open and thereby disables the
Geneva indexing mechanism. Position number 2 of level 203 is
connected to solenoid 213 of the cassette feed means 26, which upon
actuation, advances a cassette from the magazine to the receiver.
The appropriate signal to actuate solenoid 213 is provided by
driver mono 211. Position number 2 of level 202 is connected to
single-pole single-throw microswitch 44, which provides a signal
upon the insertion of a cassette into receiver 15 to advance the
stepper switch to the next position.
Position 3 of level 201 is connected to single-pole double-throw
microswitch 49 which is normally biased in the position shown to
reactivate motor 33 to rotate receiver 15 into the tape loading
position, and which is actuated upon the completion of the Geneva
cycle, to cut the power to motor 33. Position 3 of level 202 is
connected to one of the poles of microswitch 49 so that upon
actuation thereof the circuit to stepper mono 210 is completed to
advance the stepper to the next position. Terminal 3 of level 203
is connected to solenoid 213 of the cassette feed means 26 to
actuate the same to retract pusher arm 28 from magazine 11.
Terminal 4 of level 201 is open. Terminal number 4 of level 202 is
connected to microswitch 214, which is mounted above the drive
motor transport 80 to indicate when the transport has reached the
leader tape extracting position. Accordingly, position 4 of level
203 is connected to solenoid 215 of the drive motor transport
cylinder 187 and is adapted to actuate cylinder 187 so as to
advance the drive motor transport into its leader tape extracting
position, at which point microswitch 214 is closed and the stepper
relay advances the stepper switches to position number 5. It should
be noted that at start-up cylinder 189 controlling stop lug 172,
which limits the inward travel of the drive transport 80 is in its
actuated obstructing position to stop the drive transport in its
intermediate or leader tape extracting position upon the actuation
of the drive transport cylinder 187 in position 4 of level 203. It
should also be noted that splicing block 70 at start-up is disposed
in its raised position in sealing engagement with vacuum plenum 72,
so as to receive the leader tape withdrawn from the cassette in the
loading position.
Terminal number 5 of stepper level 201 is connected to flip flop
circuit 216 and monostable circuit 217, which circuits respectively
control the vacuum applied to the opposite ends of vacuum plenum
housing 71, and the high pressure air applied to leader extracting
means 60, to extract the leader tape from a cassette in the loading
position and to position the extracted leader tape within guide
grooves 98 and 99 of splicing block 70. These circuits are shown in
FIG. 13 and are described more fully hereinafter. Position number 5
of stepper level 202 is connected to flow-sensitive switch 218
disposed within the vacuum lines connected to plenum 72 and
responsive to the cessation of vacuum flow within such lines when
leader tape 7 has filled the plenum and obstructs the flow of air
into end adaptors 83 and 84, to actuate stepper mono 210 and
thereby advance stepper switch 200 to the next position.
Terminal 6 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 215 of the
drive motor transport cylinder 86 to retract the drive motor
transport from the leader tape extracting position, and is also
connected to solenoid 219 of the splicing tape feed cylinder 109
located on the splicing assembly. Actuation of solenoid 219
initiates an independent splicing tape feed cycle, comprising the
actuation of splicing tape feed cylinder 109 to advance and return
splicing tape holding block 110 to transport the splicing tape from
reel 105 to splicing foot 113, and the sequential application of
vacuum to line 111 of holding block 110 and to line 148 of splicing
foot 113 to effectuate the transfer of splicing tape from the
holding block to the splicing foot. Microswitch 220 is located in
the path of holding block 110 and is actuated by the holding block
to initiate the vacuum in splicing foot 113 when the holding block
is adjacent the splicing foot, and to initiate vacuum in the
holding block when the holding block has returned to its splicing
tape receiving position. Switch 220 also energizes solenoid 219 to
return the splicing tape feed cylinder 109 to its starting
position. Terminal 6 of level 203 is also connected to solenoid
221, which upon energization actuates the splicing block lift
cylinders 92 and 93 to lower splicing block 70 into the splicing
position simultaneously with the operation of the independent
splicing tape feed cycle described above. Single-pole double-throw
microswitch 222 having one terminal connected to position 6 of
stepper level 202 is disposed below splicing block 70 and is
actuated when the splicing block is lowered by cylinders 92 and 93
into the splicing position, to advance stepper switch 200 to the
next position.
Position 7 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 223 of the
drive motor transport limit cylinder 189 and is energized in this
position to retract stop lug 172 from its transport obstructing
position. Terminal 7 of level 203 is also connected to solenoid 224
of the splicing assembly transport cylinder 159 to actuate the same
for movement into the splicing position, to solenoid 225, which
controls a suitable cylinder for moving guide roller 131 located in
the entrance passage of housing 71 into a position for guiding the
tape to be wound within the cassette, and to solenoid 226, which
similarly controls the axial movement of guide roller 185 to
position the same in the tape path during the winding operation.
Microswitches 227 and 228 are connected in series to terminal
number 7 of stepper level 202 and are, respectively, actuated by
the splicing assembly transport in the splicing position, and the
splicing tape holding back 110 in its retracted tape receiving
position. Closing both of these switches actuates stepper mono 210
to advance stepper switch 200 to the next position.
Position number 8 of level 203 is connected to solenoid 215 of the
drive motor transport cylinder to actuate the same to advance stub
axle 76 of the drive motor 75 into operative engagement with spool
4 of a cassette in the loading position. Terminal 8 of level 203 is
also connected to solenoid 229 of the splicing foot lift cylinder
155, which upon actuation raises splicing foot 113 into a splicing
tape cutting position, and to solenoid 230, which controls the
operation of cylinder 166 to pivotally raise lever 161 and the hot
wire attached thereto from a position below the surface of splicing
block 70 to a position above splicing tape holding block 110.
Position number 8 of stepper level 201 is connected to hot wire
monostable circuit 231 which provides electrical current to heat
hot wire 164 to the proper cutting temperature simultaneously with
the pivotal movement described above, so as to cut the leader tape
held within guide grooves 98 and 99 and to cut a section of
splicing tape. Terminal 8 of level 202 is connected to microswitch
232 which is actuated by lever 161 of the cutting means at the top
of its pivotal movement to actuate stepper mono 210 and thereby
advance the stepper switches to their next position.
Terminal 9 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 234 of the
splicing block shift cylinder 101, which is adapted upon actuation
to laterally move splicing block section 97 from its first
position, in which guide grooves 99 and 98 are in axial alignment,
to its second position, in which guide grooves 100 and 98 are in
axial alignment. Terminal 9 of level 203 is also connected to
solenoid 229 to deactivate splicing foot lift cylinder 155 to
permit spring 150 to return the same to its splicing tape receiving
and splicing position. Terminal 9 of stepper level 202 is connected
to one terminal of single-pole double-throw microswitch 235, which
is disposed adjacent splicing block section 97 and is actuated by
the movement of splicing block section 97 into its second position,
to advance the stepper switch 200 to position number 10.
Terminal number 10 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid
236 of the splicing head cylinder 122 which is adapted upon
actuation to lower splicing head assembly 108 to apply cut the
section of the splicing tape under pressure to the abutting ends of
supply tape and leader tape held on splicing block 70. Terminal 10
is also connected to the control valve of vacuum line 148 of
splicing foot 113 to deactivate the same during the splicing
operation to insure that the cut section of splicing tape applied
to the supply tape and leader tape on the splicing block will be
released. In addition, position 10 of level 203 is also connected
to a further solenoid 237, which is adapted upon energization to
reset rotatable tape counter 181 to its starting position. Terminal
10 of stepper level 202 is connected to microswitch 238 juxtaposed
adjacent splicing block 70 and adapted to be closed by splicing
head assembly 108 upon the application of the splicing tape to the
tape on the splicing block. This once again completes the circuit
to stepper mono 210 and thereby advances each level of stepper
switch 200 to its next position.
Position 11 of stepper level 201 is connected to a drive speed
control circuit 239, which provides the necessary electrical power
to energize drive motor 75 for winding the supply tape into a
cassette. The drive speed control circuit has both a high and a low
input to sequentially control by means of the stepper switches the
speed of drive motor 75 during different phases of the winding
operation. In position 11, as shown, the stepper switch is
connected to the high speed portion of control circuit 239. The
transducer wheel 181 of electronic counter 350 is connected to the
high speed portion of control circuit 239 to provide an error
signal to maintain a constant tape winding speed. Referring to
stepper level 203, it can be seen that terminal 11 is connected to
solenoid 233 which is adapted in this instance to deactivate the
vacuum in lines 139 and 140 connected to splicing block 70 and thus
release the tape held within guide grooves 98 and 100. Terminal 11
of level 203 is also connected to solenoid 236 which in this
instance is adapted to actuate the splicing head cylinder to raise
splicing head assembly 108 to its splicing tape receiving position
spaced above the splicing block, and to solenoid 240, which
controls the tape clamp cylinder 144 to release the supply tape
held on roller 138. Terminal 11 of stepper level 202 is connected
via a suitable amplifier (not shown) to transducer 78 located in
the tape path. An inaudible signal recorded at or near the
beginning of each tape program is picked up by transducer 78,
amplified, and utilized to actuate stepper mono 210 to advance the
stepper to the next position. The electronic tape counter 350 is
also connected to terminal 11 of stepper level 202 by means of a
manually operable switch 241, which is located on control panel 10
on the front of the apparatus. The counter is selectively placed in
the circuit to measure the appropriate amount of blank supply tape
to be loaded in a cassette by providing a signal to terminal 11 to
advance the stepper to the next position when a preset length of
tape has been so loaded.
In position 12, the contact point of stepper level 201 is connected
to tensioning motor 242 of the supply reel hub 13 to apply a
reverse torque to the hub and thereby brake the tape winding
operation. It should be noted that the movement of contact arm 205
from position 11 to position 12 on stepper level 201 disengages
drive speed control circuit 239 and thereby cuts the power to drive
motor 75 simultaneously with the application of the braking force
via tensioning motor 242. Position 12 of stepper level 202 is
connected to a motion sense circuit 243, which is adapted to
provide an advancement signal to the stepper mono 210 via level 203
when the tape counter comes to a complete stop.
Terminal 13 of stepper level 201 is connected to the high speed
portion of speed control circuit 239, so that upon movement of
contact arm 205 into position 13, the drive motor is once again
activated to full power to wind the supply tape into the cassette.
The purpose of starting, stopping and restarting the cassette drive
motor during the initial phases of the winding operation is to
provide a check on all systems to insure that the tape is properly
cut and spliced before the full winding operation is commenced.
Position 13 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 219 of
the splicing tape feed cylinder 109 to initiate a second
independent splicing tape feed cycle as described above. Contact 13
of stepper level 202 is connected via an amplifier to pick-up
transducer 77 which is also located in the tape path and is adapted
to produce a signal to advance the stepper to the next position
upon the pick-up of a pre-recorded signal indicating the end of the
tape program. Alternately, in the case of blank tape, as described
above, switch 241 is in the actuated position and mechanical tape
counter 181 provides the necessary signal to advance the stepper
switch rather than transducer 77.
In position 14, stepper level 201 is connected to tensioning motor
242 to apply a braking force to the supply reel hub 13, and stepper
level 202 is connected to motion sense circuit 243 to again provide
a stepper advancement signal when the tape counter come to rest.
The movement of contact arm 205 of stepper level 201 from position
13 to position 14 deactivates the drive speed control circuit, and
thus cuts the power to drive motor 75.
In position 15, stepper level 201 is connected to conventional
solid state or electro-mechanical timers 244 and 245. Timer 244 is
connected to solenoid 225, and is adapted to energize the same
after a predetermined time period to retract guide roller 131 in
the entrance passage of housing 71 from the tape path. The
retraction of roller 131 permits the supply tape to sag
sufficiently so that a section thereof falls within grooves 98 and
100 of the splicing block. Timer 245 is connected to solenoid 233
to reactivate the vacuum in lines 139 and 140 to secure the tape
section within the grooves. Position 15 of stepper level 203 is
connected to solenoid 229 which is next actuated to raise splicing
foot lift cylinder 155 and splicing foot 113 into the splicing tape
cutting position. Terminal 15 of stepper level 202 is connected to
flow-sensitive switch 246 which is located withing splicing block
70 and is responsive to the cessation of vacuum flow created by the
placement of the tape within the guide grooves and closure thereby
of flow passage 94. When this occurs the stepper relay 209 is
actuated to advance the stepper switches to the next position.
Terminal 16 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 230 of
the cutting means cylinder 166, and to the splicing tape holding
block vacuum supply line 111. The completion of this circuit by
contact arm 207 energizes solenoid 230 to activate cylinder 166 to
pivotally return the hot wire cutting means to its starting
position below the surface of the splicing block 70. Simultaneously
therewith, the control pulse from driver mono 211 via stepper level
203 activates a suitable control valve for vacuum line 111 to
secure the splicing tape by suction within groove 115 of holding
block 110. Terminal 16 of stepper level 201 is connected to the hot
wire mono circuit 231 to heat the hot wire so as to cut a section
of splicing tape and the supply tape during its downward movement.
A microswitch 247 connected to terminal 16 of stepper level 202 is
positioned adjacent the hot wire cutting means and is adapted to be
actuated thereby in the bottom position of the cutting means to
advance the stepper switch.
In position 17, stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 234 of
the splicing block shift cylinder, which upon actuation, returns
splicing block section 97 to its first position in which grooves 98
and 99 are in alignment. Terminal 17 of level 203 is also connected
to solenoid 229 of the splicing foot lift assembly which upon the
receipt of the signal from driver mono 211 disengages the splicing
foot to permit its return to the splicing tape receiving position.
Terminal 17 of stepper level 202 is connected to one terminal of
microswitch 235, which detects the first position of splicing block
section 97, and in response thereto actuates stepper mono 210 to
advance the stepper switch to the next position.
Terminal 18 of stepper level 203 is connected to the control valve
of vacuum supply line 148 of the splicing foot 113 to recommence
the suction hold on the splicing tape, and to solenoid 236. which
again actuates the splicing head cylinder 122 to effectuate the
application of splicing tape to the trailing end of the supply tape
and the abutting leader section held within the guide grooves of
the splicing block. Terminal 18 of stepper level 202 is connected
to microswitch 238, which is actuated by the splicing head in the
splicing position to advance the stepper switch to the next
position.
Terminal 19 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 226,
which, upon receipt of the pulse from driver mono 211, retracts
guide roller 185 out of the tape path. Terminal 19 of level 203 is
also connected to solenoid 236 to retract the piston arm of
splicing head cylinder 122 and the splicing head assembly 108.
Terminal 19 of stepper level 202 is connected to microswitch 249,
which is positioned above the splicing head assembly, and is
actuated upon the retraction of cylinder 122 to energize stepper
mono 210 to advance the stepper switch to position 20.
Position 20 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 233,
which in this instance deactivates vacuum lines 139 and 140
connected to the splicing block 70. Terminal 20 of stepper level
203 is also connected to solenoid 224 which activates the splicing
assembly transport cylinder 159 to return the splicing assembly 73
to its non-operative position. Terminal 20 of stepper level 201 is
connected to the lower speed portion of drive speed control circuit
239 to energize drive motor 75 to complete the winding operation at
its lower speed. Microswitch 250 is connected to terminal 20 of
stepper level 202, and is positioned adjacent the splicing assembly
73 to be actuated upon the return of the splicing assembly to its
non-operative position to advance the stepper switch.
Terminal 21 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 215,
which upon energization from drive mono 211 actuates the drive
motor transport cylinder 187 to return a transport assembly 80 to
its non-operative position. Terminal 21 of stepper level 202 is
connected to microswitch 214, which, as described hereinbefore, is
actuated by the return of the drive motor transport assembly 80 to
the non-operative position. Such actuation completes the circuit to
advance the stepper to the next position.
Contact point 22 of stepper level 201 is connected to microswitch
42 of the Geneva logic circuit which upon the movement of contact
arm 205 into position 22 activates Geneva drive motor 33 to rotate
receiver 15 into the cassette eject position. It should be noted
that in the loading position of receiver 15 pole 42a of switch 42
is in contact with contact point 42b due to its engagement with
cylinder 37, thus assuring the energization of motor 33 in position
22 of the stepper switch. Once in the eject position, pole 42a of
microswitch 42 is switched into contact with point 42c by its
engagement of groove 40 on cylinder 37 to advance the stepper to
the next position.
Contact point 23 of stepper level 203 is connected to solenoid 251,
which upon energization activates cassette eject cylinder 176 to
discharge the finished cassette from the receiver 15. Terminal 23
of level 203 is also connected to solenoid 221, which activates
splicing block lift cylinders 92 and 93 to raise the splicing block
70 into contact with housing 71 to be in position to receive the
leader tape from the next cassette, and to solenoid 223 of
transport limit cylinder 189 to move lug 172 into its obstructing
position to limit the inward movement of drive transport assembly
80 during the initial phases of loading the next cassette. Terminal
23 of stepper level 202 is connected to the remaining terminal of
double throw single pole microswitch 222, which is activated by the
splicing block in the leader tape receiving position to complete
the circuit to stepper mono 210, and thereby advance the stepper
switches to position 24.
Terminal 24 and 25 of stepper level 201 are connected to the input
of timer 252. Similarly, terminals 24, 25 and 26 of stepper level
202 are connected to the output of timer 252. The purpose of the
timer is to provide a signal to actuate stepper monostable 210 to
incrementally advance the stepper switches from position 24 to
position 26. Terminal 26 of stepper level 203 is connected to
solenoid 237 of the mechanical tape counter to reset the counter
prior to the advancement of the next cassette from the magazine to
the receiver. Terminal 26 of stepper level 201 is connected to
timer 252 via an out of material gate 253, which, as will be
described hereinafter, opens the circuit to timer 252 when the
supply of cassettes, magnetic tape or splicing tape has reached a
predetermined minimum. If this occurs, the system is automatically
stopped in position 26 and can be reactivated only by the
replacement of the deficient supplies. If there is, on the other
hand, a sufficient quantity of cassettes, magnetic tape and
splicing tape, gate 253 will remain closed to complete the circuit
to timer 252, which in turn advances stepper switch 200 to position
1 to commence the next loading cycle.
Terminals 1 through 25 of stepper level 204 are tied together
electrically and are connected via line 254 to stepper relay 209.
Contact arm 208 is connected to a manually operable control switch
248 mounted on the front panel of the apparatus and adapted to
switch the apparatus from manual operation, when the switch is
closed, to automatic operation, when the switch is opened. Terminal
26 of stepper level 204 is connected to a positive voltage
source.
To clear the circuit and return each component and subassembly to
its starting position at any time during the operation of the
apparatus, a series of four switches 255, 256, 257 and 258, all
mechanically interconnected by a common actuator mounted on the
control panel of the apparatus, are provided. The actuation of
these switches also automatically advances stepper switch 200 to
position 26. Switch 255 is a single-pole double-throw switch, which
normally connects the negative terminals of the driver mono and the
stepper mono to ground, and which, upon actuation, connects arm 208
of level 204 to ground. Switch 256 is disposed in the line
connecting the output of the stepper mono 210 and the input stepper
relay 209. This switch is normally closed and is adapted upon
actuation to open the circuit between the stepper mono and the
stepper relay. Similarly, switch 257 is disposed in the line which
connects the output of the driver mono 211 and contact arm 207 of
stepper level 203. This switch is also normally closed and is
adapted upon activation to prevent the transmittal of driver pulses
via stepper level 203. Switch 258 is connected at one terminal to a
positive voltage source and at the other terminal to lines 259,
260, and 261, each of which is connected to the various solenoids
described hereinabove in a manner such that actuation of switch 258
provides a positive voltage to each solenoid to return the air
cylinders and vacuum control valves associated therewith to their
starting positions. Since positions 1 through 25 of stepper level
204 are connected to the base of stepper relay 209, upon actuation
of the clear switches, contact arm 208 is connected to the ground
terminal via switch 255 to complete the circuit to stepper relay
209 and thereby advance stepper switch 200 to position 26. It
should be noted that the clear functions are operable only when
automatic/manual switch 248 is in the manual or closed
position.
It can be seen throughout FIG. 11 that many diodes are disposed in
the various lines connecting the stepper switch levels and the
respective solenoids and circuits connected thereto. As will be
apparent to those skilled in the art, the purpose of these diodes
is to direct the current flow to or from the desired component to
be energized or de-energized in each switch position of each
stepper level. Accordingly, specific reference to each diode and
its particular function in the circuit will not be undertaken.
It should also be noted that the solenoids referred to herein
include transistorized driver circuits which are actuated by the
pulses received from driver mono 211. Such circuits are well known
in the art and a description of their specific details will not be
included herein. Furthermore, in some instances more than one
solenoid and/or driver circuit are required to control particular
pneumatic cylinders and vacuum lines utilized in the apparatus. It
will be understood, therefore, by those skilled in the art, that
reference to single solenoids includes a plurality of such
solenoids where the particular function so requires.
Referring now to FIG. 12, a typical monostable circuit which can be
utilized for both the stepper and driver monos is shown. The
circuit comprises three PNP transistors 270, 271 and 272 and an NPN
transistor 273. The base of transistor 270 is connected to the
collector of transistor 271 by means of resistor 274. Similarly,
the base of transistor 271 is connected to the collector of
transistor 270 by means of capacitor 275. A positive voltage source
is applied to line 276, to which is connected the emitter of
transistor 270 by means of resistor 277, and the base of transistor
270 by means of resistor 278. Line 276 is also connected to the
emitter of transistor 271 by means of resistor 279, to the base of
resistor 272 by means of resistor 280, to the emitter of transistor
272, and the collector of transistor 273.
Input pulses are applied to the collector of transistor 271 via RC
network 351, which is connected to contact arm 206 in the case of
stepper mono 210 and to contacts 352 of the stepper relay 209 in
the case of driver mono 211. Resistors 281 and 282 connect line 353
with opposite sides of capacitor 275. Resistor 283 connects line
353 to the collector of transistor 271. In addition, the collector
of transistor 271 is also connected to the base of transistor 272
by means of resistor 284. Finally, line 353 is connected to the
collector of transistor 272 and the base of transistor 273 by
resistor 285, and is further connected to the emitter of transistor
273 via resistor 286. Switch 255 descirbed hereinabove selectively
connects line 280 with ground. An input pulse received at the
collector of transistor 271 actuates the circuit to produce a
square wave output pulse at the emitter of transistor 273, which
pulse is transmitted via terminal 287 to stepper relay 209 in the
case of stepper mono and contact arm 207 in the case of driver mono
211.
FIG. 13 illustrates the vacuum plenum flip-flop circuit 216 and the
air jet monostable circuit 217 used in the extraction of the leader
tape from each cassette. Terminal 290 connects circuit 216 to
terminal number 5 of stepper level 201. Terminal 290 is connected
to a pair of solenoid valves 291 and 292, which, respectively,
control the supply of vacuum flow at each end of vacuum plenum
housing 72. Valve 291 is connected to the collector of a PNP
transistor 293, and valve 292 is connected to the collector of
another PNP transistor 294. These transistors are adapted to
alternately pulse valves 291 and 292, so as to obtain the alternate
application of suction at opposite ends of the vacuum plenum.
The base of transistor 293 is connected via resistor 295 to the
collector of an NPN transistor 296. Similarly, the emitter of
transistor 293 is also connected to the collector of transistor 296
by means of resistor 297. The base of transistor 294 is connected
via resistor 298 to the collector of another NPN transistor 299,
and the emitter of transistor 294 is connected to the collector of
transistor 299 by means of resistor 300. A positive voltage is
applied at terminal 301 which is connected to the emitters of
transistors 293 and 294 and the collectors of transistors 296 and
299. The collector of transistors 296 is connected to the base of
transistor 299 by means of RC network 302. Similarly, the collector
of transistor 299 is connected to the base of transistor 296 via RC
network 303. Resistors 304 and 305 connect the bases of transistors
296 and 299 respectively, with the emitter of transistor 299 via a
further resistor 306, and to one base terminal of unijunction
transistor 307. The other base terminal of diode 307 is connected
by means of resistor 308, to terminal 301. A resistor 309 and a
variable resistor 310 arranged in series connects the input
terminal 301 with the emitter of unijunction transistor 307. In
addition, the emitter of transistor 307 is connected to ground via
capacitor 311. Similarly, one base terminal of transistor 307 is
also connected to ground by means of resistor 312. RC network 313,
connected to the collector of transistor 293 serves as the trigger
to actuate the air jet mono circuit 217.
The air jet mono circuit comprises a solenoid valve 314 controlling
the supply of air to leader tape extracting means 60. Valve 314 is
connected at one end to the collector of an NPN transistor 315 and
at the other end to line 316, which is connected to a positive
voltage source. Line 316 is also connected via resistor 317 to the
collector of another NPN transistor 318 and to the base of
transistor 318 by means of resistor 319. The base of transistor 318
is also connected to the collector of a still further NPN
transistor 320, the base of which is connected to air jet trigger
313 via resistor 321. The air jet trigger is also connected to the
collector of a PNP transistor 322. The emitter of transistor 322 is
connected to the emitter of another PNP transistor 323 and the base
of transistor 322 is connected to the collector of transistor 323
by means of capacitor 324. Similarly, the base of transistor 323 is
connected to the collector of transistor 322 by means of resistor
325. In addition, the emitter of transistor 323, and the emitter of
transistor 322 are connected to line 316 by means of resistors 326
and 327, respectively. The emitters of transistors 315 and 320 are
connected directly to ground. Similarly, the emitter of transistor
318 and the base of transistor 315 are connected to ground by means
of resistor 328. In addition, the base of transistor 320 is also
connected to ground by means of resistor 329. Other ground
connections include resistor 330, which is connected to the
collector of transistor 322, resistor 331, which is connected to
the collector of transistor 323, and resistor 332 and variable
resistor 335 which are connected in series to the base of
transistor 322.
The circuit to the vacuum plenum flip flop and air jet mono is
completed when level 201 of switch 200 reaches position 5. This
permits circuit 216 to alternately energize valves 291 and 292, and
to activate air jet trigger 313 to energize the air jet mono
circuit 217, thus effectuating the extraction of the leader tape
from a cassette in a loading position and the placement thereof on
the splicing block.
The out-of materials gate 253 is shown in FIG. 14. This circuit
comprises an NPN transistor 334, having its collector connected to
timer 252 and its emitter connected to terminal 26 of stepper level
201. The base of transistor 333 is connected in parallel to
switches 22, which is actuated upon the depletion of a
predetermined number of cassettes in magazine 11, switch 335, which
operates in conjunction with lever arm 184 to indicate when the
amount of supply tape on reel 8 has reached a predetermined
minimum, and microswitch 340 which is located in the splicing tape
path and actuated by the depletion of said tape. Also included in
circuit 253 are a series of signal lights 366, 337 and 338 which
indicate that cassettes, magnetic tape and splicing tape,
respectively, require replenishment. A reload signal light 339 is
also provided to operate in conjunction with each of the foregoing
signal lights. If any one of switches 22, 335 or 340 is closed
during the loading operation of any cassette, the circuit between
terminal 26 of stepper level 201 and timer 252 will be broken and
the winding apparatus of the invention will automatically stop in
position 26 of the stepper switches. Furthermore, the deficient
supply must be replenished before the apparatus can again be
started.
The electronic circuitry required for the drive speed control
circuit, the hot wire monostable circuit and the motion sense
circuit is similar to the circuitry described hereinabove and can
be readily designed and constructed by those skilled in the art
with reference to the particular functions of these circuits.
Accordingly, the particular details of these circuits will not be
described herein.
To institute the operation of the apparatus of the invention, the
operator first loads the machine with a suitable reel of
prerecorded or blank recording tape 3, a plurality of cassettes 12,
and a reel of splicing tape 106. The supply tape is threaded around
the guide rollers shown in FIG. 1 and placed within groove 100 of
splicing block section 97. Similarly, splicing tape 106 is threaded
around guide roller 114 of the splicing assembly 73 and placed
within groove 115 of holding block 110 with its leading end
overhanging the edge of the block. The automatic circuitry shown in
FIG. 11 is then actuated by the operator so that each cassette is
sequentially loaded with the appropriate amount of supply tape, and
ejected from the apparatus upon completion of the loading
apparatus, all automatically.
Upon start up, all levels of the stepper switch are moved in unison
into position number 1. Microswitch 21, located at the bottom of
magazine 11, indicates the orientation of the bottom most cassette
in the magazine, and thereby determines which of the switches 42 or
43 of the Geneva index logic will be in the circuit. The actuation
of switch 21 energizes Geneva drive motor 33 to commence rotational
movement of the Geneva drive so as to place receiver 15 in the
proper position for the receipt of a cassette from the magazine.
When the Geneva reaches the proper position microswitch 42 or 43,
depending upon which is in the circuit, is actuated and the stepper
switches are advanced to the next position.
The cassette feed means 26 is then actuated by solenoid 213 to
discharge the lowermost cassette from magazine 11 and insert the
same into receiver 15. The insertion of the cassette into receiver
15 compresses spring 47 of the cassette indexing means 36, which in
turn actuates microswitch 44 to advance stepper switch 200 to the
next position, in which motor 33 is again energized to rotate
receiver 15 into the tape loading position. Once in the tape
loading position, microswitch 49 is actuated by the Geneva drive
mechanism, the cassette feed means is retracted and the stepper
switch is advanced to effectuate the next operation. It should be
noted that at startup the drive motor transport limit cylinder 189
is in its extended obstructing position to stop by means of lug 172
the inward movement of drive motor transport 80 in the intermediate
or leader tape extracting position. Accordingly, in position 4 of
the stepper switch 200, the energization of solenoid 215 actuates
drive motor transport cylinder 187 to advance the transport means
80 merely into its leader extracting position. In this position,
microswitch 214 is actuated and the stepper is advanced to position
number 5.
In position 5, the vacuum plenum flip-flop circuit 216 and the air
jet mono circuit 217 are actuated to extract the leader 7 from the
cassette in the loading position and position the same for cutting
within guide grooves 98 and 99 of splicing block 70. Switch 218,
which is a flow sensitive switch located in vacuum lines 87 and 88
connected to plenum housing 72, is actuated upon the obstruction by
the leader tape of the plenum outlet ports, to advance the stepper
switch to the next position.
In position 6, solenoid 233 controlling vacuum lines 139 and 140
connected to grooves 98, 99 and 100 of splicing block 70 is
actuated to hold the leader tape and the leading section of supply
tape in its proper position upon splicing block 70. In addition,
solenoid 215 is also energized to retract drive motor transport
means 80 from its leader tape extracting position. Simultaneously
with this operation, splicing assembly 73 commences its independent
splicing tape feed cycle in which tape 106 is automatically fed via
holding block 110 from reel 105 to splicing foot 113, and solenoid
221 is energized to actuate splicing block lift cylinders 92 and 93
to lower the splicing block into its splicing position.
Microswitch 222 is actuated to advance the stepper switch to the
next position when the splicing block 70 reaches its lowermost
position. In position 7 of stepper switch 200, splicing assembly
transport cylinder 159 is actuated to move the entire splicing
assembly 73 into position for splicing the leader tape and the
supply upon the splicing block. In addition transport limit
cylinder 189 is actuated to raise stop lug 172 out of its
obstructing position. Concurrently with these operations, guide
roller 185 located in the tape path between housing 71 and splicing
block 70 is moved into its operative position, and guide roller 131
located at the entrance passage of housing 71 is likewise moved
into a tape guiding position. Stepper switch 200 is advanced to the
next position upon the actuation of microswitches 227 by splicing
tape holding block 110 when it is returned to its tape receiving
position, and microswitch 228 by the splicing assembly 73 when it
reaches the splicing position.
In position 8, the stepper switch energizes solenoid 229 to
activate the splicing foot cylinder 155 to raise splicing foot 113
into a position for cutting the splicing tape. In addition, line
148 controlling the vacuum to groove 145 of splicing foot 113 is
also actuated to hold a portion of the splicing tape within groove
145. Simultaneously with this operation, hot wire mono circuit 231
is energized to heat the hot wire to the proper cutting temperature
and hot wire lift cylinder 166 is actuated to move the hot wire
through its first cutting cycle, in which the leader tape
positioned on splicing block 70 within grooves 98 and 99 is cut and
the leading edge of the splicing tape held by splicing foot 113 and
holding block 110 is likewise cut. At the end of this initial
cutting operation, the hot wire remains in its "up" position, so
that it may be subsequently lowered to its starting position to
effectuate a further cutting operation, as hereinafter described.
As the hot wire cuts the leader tape and the splicing tape,
solenoid 215 of the drive motor transport cylinder 187 is also
actuated to advance the drive motor transport 80 into the drive
position, in which stub axle 76 of drive motor 75 operatively
engages spool 4 of the cassette held in receiver 15. Microswitch
232 is actuated by cutting means 160 after the initial cutting
operation to energize the stepper relay to advance stepper switch
200 to its next position.
In position 9, solenoid 234 of the splicing block shift cylinder
101 is actuated to move splicing block section 97 from its first
position in which guide grooves 98 and 99 are in alignment to its
second position in which grooves 98 and 100 are in alignment. This
operation places the trailing end of the leading section of the cut
leader tape held within guide groove 98 in abutting alignment with
the leading end of the supply tape held within guide groove 100 of
splicing block section 97. In addition, the splicing foot lift
cylinder 155 is deactuated to lower splicing foot 113 into a
position for splicing. Microswitch 235 is actuated by splicing
block section 97 as it is moved into the second position to advance
the stepper switch to position 10.
Splicing head cylinder 122 is next actuated by means of solenoid
236 to splice the trailing end of the leader tape to the leading
end of the supply tape. Actuation of cylinder 122 lowers the entire
splicing head assembly 108 in a manner such that splicing foot 113
initially applies the splicing tape under pressure to the sections
of tape to be spliced. Continued application of pressure by
cylinder 122 causes compression of spring 150, thus lowering rubber
pressure pad 125 into contact with the splicing tape overhanging
the end of the foot 113 to complete the splicing operation.
Simultaneously, with the application of the splicing tape to the
supply tape and the leader tape held on the splicing block, the
vacuum in line 148 is automatically cut off to release the splicing
tape from groove 145 of foot 113. At the same time electronic tape
counter 350 is reset to zero. Microswitch 238 is actuated by the
splicing head assembly 108 when it is moved into contact with the
splicing block upon actuation of cylinder 122, and thereby advances
stepper switch 200 to its next position.
In position 11 of switch 200, splicing head cylinder 122 is
retracted, the vacuum in lines 139 and 140 connected to splicing
block 70 is shut off, tape clamp cylinder 144 is actuated to
release clamping means 141 from the supply tape, and cassette drive
motor 75 is started by drive speed control circuit 239. If
pre-recorded programs are contained on tape 3 being loaded into the
cassette, switch 241 is placed in its open position so that
transducers 78 and 77 via their appropriate amplifying circuits
control the next sequence of operations of the winding apparatus of
the invention. As mentioned before, an inaudible pulse is recorded
in the beginning of each tape program, and is picked up by
transducer 78. The amplified signal from transducer 78 actuates
stepper mono 210 to advance the stepper switches to the next
position.
In position 12, tensioning motor 242 is actuated to provide a
reverse torque to the supply reel hub 13 and thereby stop the
advancement of the supply tape, and the circuit to the drive speed
control circuit 239 is opened, thereby stopping drive motor 75.
When the tape has come to a complete stop tape counter 181 actuates
motion sense circuit 243 to provide a signal which advances stepper
switch 200 to the next position. The supply brake is then released,
full power is applied to drive motor 75 via drive speed control 239
and the independent splicing tape feed cycle is again commenced.
Near the end of each tape program another high frequency inaudible
pulse is provided. When this pulse is picked up by transducer 77,
stepper switch 200 is advanced to the next position, in which the
drive motor is deactivated and the supply brake reactivated to stop
the advancement of supply tape. Again, when the tape comes to a
complete rest, tape counter 181 provides a signal to motion sense
circuit 243, which in turn advances the stepper to the next switch
position.
In position 15, splicing foot lift cylinder 155 is again actuated
by solenoid 229 to raise splicing foot 113 into the splicing tape
cutting position. Timers 244 and 245 then control the operation of
the device to, respectively, retract guide roller 131 from the tape
path, and activate vacuum lines 139 and 140 of the splicing block
70 to hold the supply tape within grooves 99 and 100 of the
splicing block by suction. Switch 246 is a flow sensitive switch
which is actuated upon a predetermined decrease in the vacuum flow
of lines 139 and 140 effectuated by the obstruction of passages 94
in guide grooves 98 and 100 of the splicing block 70 by the supply
tape. Actuation of switch 246 advances the stepper switch 200 to
the next position.
In position 16, pneumatic cylinder 166 is actuated by solenoid 230
to pivotally move cutting means 160 from its "up" position to its
"down" position located below the surface of splicing block 70,
simultaneously with the heating of the hot wire to the appropriate
cutting temperature by hot wire mono circuit 231, so as to sever
the next section of splicing tape and to cut the supply tape at the
end of the pre-recorded program. At the same time the flow in
vacuum line 111 of splicing tape holding block 110 is recommenced
to secure the next section of splicing tape within groove 115. The
return of the cutting means 160 to its "down" position actuates
microswitch 247 to advance the stepper switch 200 to the next
position, in which splicing block section 97 is shifted by cylinder
101 into its first position to realign tape guide grooves 99 and
98. In this manner the trailing end of the supply tape held within
groove 98 is moved into abutting alignment with the leading end of
the remaining leader tape section held within groove 99.
Concurrently with this operation, splicing foot lift cylinder 155
is retracted to permit spring 150 of the splicing head assembly 108
to return splicing foot 113 to its original position. Microswitch
235 detects the shifting of splicing block section 97 and in
response thereto advances stepper switch 200 to position 18.
In position 18, splicing head cylinder 122 is actuated to apply the
section of splicing tape held within guide groove 145 of splicing
foot 113 to the abutting sections of supply tape and leader tape
held within the guide grooves of splicing block 70. As in the prior
splicing operation, simultaneously with the application of the
splicing block to the tape held in splicing block 70, the vacuum
flow in line 148 is shut to release the splicing tape. Microswitch
238 is actuated by splicing head assembly 108 as it reaches the
bottom of its splicing stroke to advance the stepper switch to the
next position in which guide roller 185 is retracted, and splicing
head cylinder 122 is likewise retracted. The retraction of splicing
head cylinder 122, in turn, actuates microswitch 249 to advance
stepper switch 200 to position number 20. In this position of the
stepper switch, the low speed portion of drive control circuit 239
is actuated to advance drive motor 75 at a relatively low speed to
take up within the cassette the remaining portion of supply tape
and leader tape, thereby completing the winding operation.
Simultaneously with the actuation of the drive motor to low power,
vacuum lines 139 and 140 connected to the splicing block 70 are
deactivated to release the tape from the guide grooves of the
splicing block, and splicing assembly transport cylinder 159 is
actuated by solenoid 224 to retract the splicing assembly to its
starting position.
Microswitch 250 is actuated by the splicing assembly 73 as it is
returned to its starting position to advance stepper switch 200 to
position number 21. In this position, drive motor transport 80 is
retracted to its non-operative position by the actuation of drive
motor transport cylinder 86 and the cassette drive motor is
deactivated. The return of the drive motor transport 80 to its
non-operative position actuates microswitch 214 to advance the
stepper to the next position. At this point Geneva drive motor 33
is actuated to rotate receiver 15 to the eject position, in which
microswitch 42 is actuated to once again advance stepper switch
200. Finally, in position 23 the cassette eject cylinder 176 is
actuated by solenoid 251 to eject the finished cassette from
receiver 15. Concurrently with this operation, to prepare for the
next cassette, the transport limit cylinder 189 is actuated to
lower stop lug 172 into its obstructing position, and the splicing
block 70 is raised by cylinder 92 and 93 into engagement with the
bottom of vacuum plenum 72 to be in position to receive the leader
tape from the next cassette. Microswitch 222, which advances the
stepper to the next position, is actuated by the splicing block
when it is raised into its leader tape receiving position. At this
point, timer 252 controls the device to sequentially advance
steppper switch 200 to position 1 to recommence the loading
operation with the next cassette in magazine 11.
It should be noted that a plurality of manually operable switches
can be provided on control panel 10 to advance stepper switch 200
through each step to monitor the operation of the winding
apparatus. In addition, as noted hereinbefore, actuation of the
clear circuit at any point during the winding operation
automatically advances the stepper switch to position 26, resets
each function, and stops the operation of the device. This is
useful at any point where it appears to the operator that the tape
is either broken or has twisted during the winding operation.
Similarly, the out of material gate, as described hereinabove, is
operable to stop the apparatus in stepper switch position 26, if at
any point during the preceding cutting, splicing and winding
operation either the magnetic tape, the splicing tape or the number
of cassettes are depleted to a predetermined minimum quantity.
It will be understood to those skilled in the art that the
embodiments described hereinabove are included for illustrative
purposes only and in no way limit the invention. As will be
apparent there are numerous modifications that can be made to the
various mechanical and electrical components which comprise the
winding apparatus of the invention, and which will fall within the
scope of the invention. For example, the apparatus of the invention
can be readily adapted for use with tape on film of any type, such
as video tape and photographic film. In addition, with slight
modification the instant apparatus can be adapted to load single
reel tape or film cassettes or cartridges, including but not
limited to those of the endless loop type.
* * * * *